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Getting ready in the morning, hurrying off to class, and pulling all-nighters in the library are now distant dreams. You are no longer on campus and all of your friends are miles away. Your bedroom, where your bed three feet from your desk, or the dining table, where your family is having a bake-off in the kitchen, is now your workspace. You have an exam coming up in a couple of hours. If you’re an international student back in your home country, jet-lag is definitely not helping. You’re thinking, “I never thought I’d miss the library floor or the study sessions with my friends.”

Yes, it can be a challenge to stay productive when you’re studying from home. Here at ConnectED Mobile, jumping from one Chrome tab to another for classes and team meetings has become our new normal as well.

Here are our top five tips for studying and working from home the right way:

1. Find your (morning) routine

Setting a (morning) routine will set the tone for the rest of your day. I put “morning” in parentheses because not everyone is a morning person. Maybe you prefer starting your day later in the day — it’s your day, your routine. I am personally a believer in “You Are What You Eat For Breakfast.” Having cup of coffee or green tea, an apple, and a bowl of greek yogurt topped with berries and honey after 15 minutes of morning stretch gives me a sense of accomplishment and stay productive for the rest of the day. Setting a routine today will only help you be better tomorrow. So, what’s your routine?

2. Your designated workspace is your new library seat: CLAIM. YOUR. SPACE.

Create your own workspace that puts you in the zone. Making a mental note that this space is for studying/working will help you set boundaries and prevent you from snuggling up in your bed while hating yourself for doing so. It will also help you from burning out by physically separating work space with personal space. If you don’t yet have the tools to set up your designated workspace, you are in luck! Amazon is offering a Amazon Prime Student 6 month free-trial for all students — yes, you read it right.

3. Consider this studying technique that will change your life

Pomodoro technique is a time management system that WORKS. The technique is very simple: you focus for 25 minutes (or 50 minutes) and take a short 5 minute break, which is the duration for one “pomodoro.” After 4-5 pomodoros, you take a longer break for 15-20 minutes. Setting a 25 minute-limit on a working block pushes you to really focus on your task while a frequent 5 minute break keeps you from burning out and feeling overwhelmed. You can set your own timer, download a Pomodoro app, or simply go on Youtube and find any “Study with Me” videos that suit your style. Try it yourself and you will see why I am so in love with this technique.

4. Create a weekly checklist for recurring to-dos

It’s easy to push things off to last minute or miss the deadline because of all the unexpected events happening at home. Scheduling your day, week, or month, depending on your working style, will save you from the “sorry, my dog ate my homework” excuses. If you are a meticulous planner who likes every minute of your week scheduled ahead of time, do so in advance. If you are a go-with-the-flow type of person, have a physical weekly checklist on your wall for recurring to-dos to make sure you’re staying on track. Whether it is on Google Calendar, iCal, planner, or a customized weekly checklist, scheduling will help you prioritize tasks, especially when you’re studying/working from home.

5. Get up and enjoy quality time

All of the tips above will help you stay productive but that doesn’t mean working from home always has to be a grind. As with the idea of setting a dedicated workspace to create boundaries for yourself, intentionally taking some time out of your day dedicated to your personal life will help you stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Your quality time is what you make of it. Block off your calendar for an hour for lunch with your family. Take an hour before going to bed to read that book you always wanted to read. Bake that banana bread you’ve been craving. Whether it is spent with your family, significant other, or on your own, you’ll start looking forward to your quality time after a hard day of working from home.

5 Productivity Tips for Students Working From Home