5 Productivity Hacks for Virtual Classroom Teachers

Daunting workloads area professional reality for many online teachers. Not surprisingly,multi-tasking has become second nature.

But there’s adifference between being busy, and being productive. And when you have so muchto get through, it’s not always easy to make the smarter choice to beproductive rather than running in place.

Here are five ways tostay on track and ensure you’re being productive—not just busy.

1. Re-frame distractions asrewards

Students are not theonly ones tempted by the distractions of an online environment. The internet hostsa range of potential distractions for online teachers as well.

The best way to dealwith these distractions is to change their status. Instead of viewing them as aguilt-inducing waste of time when you should be grading papers, re-frame themas rewards.

It’s all about timing.Grade the first eight essays or responses of the day, and then go to your favorite news site.

By getting some workdone first, you turn time-wasting distractions into well-deserved rewards.

2. Eliminate on-screenclutter

Having several browsertabs and documents open on your desktop at the same time doesn’t increase yourproductivity. In fact, it multiplies confusion and increases the feeling of beingoverwhelmed.

It makes you feelrushed and pressured, and pulled in several directions at once.

Focus on one task at atime, and close documents and irrelevant browser tabs when you’re done.

3. Simplify and clear yourworking environment

Controlling yourimmediate environment can have a powerful effect on your productivity.

Working amid piles ofhalf-graded papers or abandoned to-do lists not only makes it harder for you tofind documents you do need; it alsocreates a form of psychological clutter.

The same applies tobackground noise and passing foot traffic. Shut your office door, try noise-cancelingheadphones, or put on some calming music that creates a peaceful and sereneenvironment that enables you to focus.

4. Reduce the size of your to-dolist

This hack appearscounterintuitive, but it’s a powerful way to keep making forward progress.

When you have, say, fivethings to achieve today, instead of 35, that list of tasks suddenly becomesachievable.

Making it through amanageable to-do list feels like a miracle. It creates a sense of satisfaction thatreplaces the depressing feeling that you’ll neverget everything done.

5. Separate the urgent fromthe non-urgent

You may have a lot todo on any given day, but not all of that needs to be done right now.

It’s too easy to fallinto the toxic habit of assuming everything is urgent.

It’s not.

Take another look atyour to-do list, and prioritize your tasks. You’ll find that not everything isa matter of life or death.

Focus on the genuinelyurgent tasks first, and order the other tasks according to their relativeimportance. You can tackle them later in the week.

These are somepractical hacks for separating busy work from productive activity. Try themyourself!