When we think of adaptation and sustainability it is often in reference to our lifestyle and its impact on the environment. We change our habits of consumption and our patterns of disposal so that we can save the earth. Often times it means taking on new titles to define who we are. The same can be said when our world forces us to make a change. Most of us have become virtual learners, employees and employers. This adaptation whether natural or forced is currently a fact of life. Some find it difficult because it lessens human interactions and causes us to change our ways of thinking, learning and working. This is what adaptation is about.
Distance Education
As if learning in a classroom before did not required discipline, you have to be even more dedicated when you are a distance learner. It requires you to be organized and focused. Truth be told, you spend more time reading and learning how to navigate learning platforms. The most important thing to remember is that a lot of what you learn will depend on you. By this I mean you will need to read, research and start applying the knowledge even before it gets to exam time. There are many ways to do this. If you're learning Accounting, start creating income statements for your household. How about Marketing? Design an ad campaign. There are so many ways to put your learning into action. This is called reinforcement. You will have something to show or quantify your learning. Make it fun!
Whatever the real catalyst may be behind this push for change, we must adapt and in doing so become sustainable.
Working Remotely
Depending on your personality, this can be difficult. Adapting to working online means changing your mindset, redefining space within your home, establishing ground rules and cutoff times. Mentally, you have to develop certain ground rules for yourself. Know that company time does not mean play on your phone or run out to the supermarket. Also know that your free time, does not mean company time. You have a schedule, stick to that. At the office you did it all within that timeframe, it should be no different at home. Have a dedicated work space. Stay on schedule and on task. Make a healthy lunch. You can even meal prep as usual. During your breaks and lunchtime, stay away from your works station. Use that time for relaxation or working on personal projects. Clock out when it is time to. Take the time to prepare a healthy meal and spend time with family if you can.
Learn the technologies
Make distinctions between work/study time and your free time
Avoid distractions
Quantify your knowledge
Stay organized
Adapt your skills and learn new ones to meet your remote needs
Live in the real world
Virtual adaptation does not mean that you integrate your life fully with a computer or give yourself no separation. It means that certain areas of your life will transition virtually and by doing so you adapt to successfully carryout those remote functions. Your actual life is stillv ery much outside of the computer. Establishing this basic principle helps you to strike a clear balance between working remotely and in a physical office so that you can easily navigate both.
Having completed an MBA online, and worked remotely for various companies, virtual adaptation is not something that you just dive into, otherwise you will begin to feel overwhelmed. It is a process where start off with the basics of just knowing what you want to accomplish then organizing your time around that. Be careful not to spend all of your time online as this can quickly damage your vision and cause you to second guess natural human interaction.
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