Set Your Space Up For Success

Written By Emily Bottegal, MS
 
 

When building a routine, it is not just when (time) and what (task) you will do these actions, but assigning a specific place for these habits to occur.  Whether you are working from home, finding a good place on campus to study, or creating a homework nook for your student, it is essential you establish a space that allows you to be successful and rids potential distractions. 

Because streaming The Bachelor while you are preparing someone’s taxes or studying for your Biochemistry exam might not be the best option.

  1. Pick a place that is away from places where people  tend to gather.  If you are doing work by the front door of your house or even by the entrance of a lobby, this is going to be distracting with the amount of people coming and going.  

  2. Get rid of distractions including streaming devices, phones, TVs, video game consoles, etc.  Also think about how you work best- if clutter drives you crazy, try to avoid rooms that tend to be unorganized.  Try apps like Focus, Forest, Freedom, and StayFocused if your alerts can deter you from being successful.

  3. Set yourself up with a space that you can say “this is where I ____”.  If you are doing work at your kitchen island, have a basket or tray you can take out with all your work supplies.  Stock your space with essential supplies and find a safe place to move it when you are finished for the night. 

  4. Refuel often.  Like your body, your brain also needs to hydrate.  Keep a water bottle close to you for easy access.  It also helps you from giving yourself a reason to get up again.

If you need help establishing the WHERE of your routines, reach out to LifeSolved Coaching to begin meeting with an executive function coach!

Emily Bottegal, MS

Ensuring students achieve academic, social/emotional, and personal success, Emily has a passion to empower students to succeed in and out of the classroom. Emily coaches from a strength-based approach and believes every individual has the ability to achieve success with the appropriate support and skills in place. She has dedicated her professional life to working with youth in school and community settings. 

Prior to joining the team, Emily worked as a School Site Coordinator and Home-Based Counselor in the Washington, DC area. In these roles, Emily engaged directly with students through individual counseling sessions and small group interventions focused on helping students meet personal goals relating to academics and managing emotions. Her direct experience helped her to understand the challenges individuals face both academically and personally, ultimately leading to her developing lessons around time management, scheduling, study skills, and organization. 

Most recently, Emily worked at a nonprofit, helping secure specialized instruction and support necessary to improve educational outcomes for low-income children with learning disabilities and developmental delays.

Emily has a Master’s degree in Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

http://www.lifesolvedcoaching.com/who-we-are
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