Online education is on the rise because it is more affordable, convenient, and accessible. Some students might have a couple of online classes, while others might earn the degree remotely. In any case, it is important to stay productive. This can be more difficult for some compared to traditional learning. But with these tips, you will be able to focus better when studying online.
Create a Schedule
Having a proper schedule is the secret to managing multiple responsibilities successfully. It is particularly important in online education as students get more time for themselves, and it is easy to get distracted.
To make sure you follow all the deadlines and requirements, create a schedule with an online tool, for example, Google Calendar. You can add there:
- Online classes;
- Study sessions;
- Assignments and deadlines;
- Job schedule;
- Personal activities, etc.
By color-coding, you’ll know exactly when you are busy and when you have free time. Make sure you plan your breaks as well. If you are following a self-paced course, keep the studying sessions consistent in time. For instance, you can devote a couple of hours in the morning. A consistent schedule helps your brain to focus and get into a working mode faster.
Prepare Your Resources
Another good idea is to always have all resources you need close and organized. This way, you won’t get distracted while looking for them. This is essential for online resources like applications or helping platforms.
For example, if you have difficulties with academic writing, you can bookmark a paper writing service on the browser to have quick access to it when needed. So the next time you require guidance and expert advice, do not waste time searching online. Online education might feel isolating when you do not have constant access to professors or cannot discuss assignments with peers. It becomes harder to fulfill college requirements and build vital writing skills.
Cooperation with experienced writers allows for overcoming this issue. The top paper writing services are extremely useful for online learners as they offer immediate assistance with all types of college papers. Whether you need editing, proofreading, or writing – they are ready to help at any time. So students that have questions or require advice can always access it without any hustle.
Having your helping resources ready also gives you more confidence. This is good for worrying less and concentrating on the task.
A designated workspace will ensure you are ready to go into a study mood. And the best part is that you can design it according to your liking. This is one of the reasons why online degrees are more convenient. You can work from home without the need to go anywhere.
The workspace needs to have the following:
- All devices you need, like a laptop, tablet, or smartphone;
- Good internet connection;
- Good lighting (natural lighting is preferable);
- Comfortable desk and chair;
- Tools you might need (pens, notebooks, pencils, etc.).
Students can add personal touches like an art piece, a small plant, or an aroma candle. Make sure that the space is used only for education and that there are no distractions. If you share your living space with others, ask them to not disturb you during classes.
Maintain Daily Routine
Creating a routine is a great way to turn something into a habit. Routines allow us to be more prepared for specific tasks. As you have more autonomy with your schedule and time, it is quite easy to start a routine that works for you. It might include:
- Waking up at the same time;
- Having breakfast;
- Dressing into a “school” outfit (it doesn’t have to be fancy, but it needs to be more formal than pajamas);
- Following the program at the same time;
- Having a lunch break;
- Setting a steady work schedule.
All of that helps students to turn on “work mode” and turn it off after.
Create a Study Plan with Goals
There is nothing better than strong internal motivation to keep going and focus on something. To boost your motivation, create a study plan with clear goals. You can write it down and put it somewhere you can see it.
A secret to achieving goals is to keep them SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This way, they will transform into an actionable plan. For example, “focus more during classes” is not a smart goal by these measures. But “finish this graphic design course in 3 months” is a great goal.
It is also convenient to write to-do lists for every day you have several important tasks to keep track of the progress.
Distractions kill concentration and productivity. If you want to be efficient, you need to focus on one task at a time. This means reducing distracting sounds or images, wearing noise-canceling headphones, and turning your phone off.
Do not use social media while studying, and turn off notifications. Some might even use applications that limit internet access on their phone or laptop to make sure they are not procrastinating.
Find Online Tutors or Like-Minded People
One of the major difficulties with online education is that students might lack social interactions and the benefits that come from it.
Having like-minded people around, even digitally, helps you stay motivated and determined. Also, such communication allows building skills and learning easier. So what can you do? Here are some options:
- Stay in touch with professors;
- Communicate with other students from your online course;
- Follow educators and content creators on social media;
- Find a tutor that can work with you remotely;
- Turn your peers into study buddies;
- Join groups of people learning the same subjects on social media.
There are plenty of opportunities to reach out and create a support network that will also help you achieve your academic goals.
Although online education is beneficial in many ways, it might be hard to focus sometimes when studying from home. Hopefully, these tips will help you to concentrate easier and stay on track with your goals and aspirations. Make sure to create a schedule and work toward your goals.