It is easy to get distracted when you are studying online. Temptations to click on icons and your favorite applications are unavoidable. On the other hand, you know you have to learn, coursework to hand in, and group work to participate and complete.
So, how do you stay productive when you are an online college student? This article shares with you five excellent tips to improve productivity and stay on track in achieving your academic goals while you are in an online college.
First, create a conducive workspace for yourself. What is conducive will vary between people and personalities. Some people need a quiet place at home or the library. Some prefer to be surrounded by people and activities, like in a café.
Most importantly, your workspace must have reliable broadband and adequate space to place notebooks, textbooks, and your water bottle or coffee. A work desk in your bedroom or living room or even your dining table may be fine at home.
As harsh as it may sound, the second but most difficult tip is to stay away from social media. No, turning on silent mode is not enough for most people. So, what can you do? Try putting your phone in another room, put it in the closet, or turn it off for the time being. It takes discipline to do all these, but the following tip will show a solution.
Planning To Succeed
Make a schedule for everything. All things need to have a time and place. Identify the best days to hit the gym, go for a run, hang out with friends, watch movies, and allocate some time, say 15 or 20 minutes a day, for social media, if you need it.
Running through messages and replying to them is not to be done during the study break. For many people, social media adds to stress at a subconscious level rather than helping them relax.
Fourth, start with difficult things. Your to-do list would have a blend of tasks. Tackle the most arduous task first and when you are most productive and motivated. Once you have accomplished the most challenging task of the day, the sense of achievement will make the rest of the day a breeze.
Finally, remember to reward yourself for every achievement. Your reward can be in the form of a cup of coffee by your favorite barista, a long walk in the park, and some extra time with your loved ones. Rewarding yourself can motivate you to keep pushing yourself when facing challenges and difficulties.
You could also get online applications like Evernote, Trello, and Todoist to manage your notes and lists. Having tools to help you stay organized will help you save time, energy, and resources in getting things done.
