People who go to school online may have a little more difficulty trying to focus than students who attend classes. This becomes all the more difficult when the weather is warm and other students are out of classes. So what is an online student to do? As a student, you should prepare a study space that will help you focus and get your work done, so you can get out there and enjoy the summer sun without feeling guilty about skipping your schoolwork.
1. Get rid of distractions.
What's the one thing that can prevent you from getting your work done? Distractions.1 From Facebook and television to a buzzing phone, these distractions can keep you from focusing on the task at hand. Naturally, you want to try to avoid these distractions at all costs, but this can be easier said than done. That's why you may need to go the extra mile. Turn off your phone or put it in the other room. Stay totally away from Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Don't check for updates, responses or new posts. Without these distractions, you'll see how much easier it is to work.
2. Clean up.
It's important to get yourself situated in this new space. Of course, not everyone has an in-home office.2 However, tidying up a workspace can help motivate you. Sort through paperwork to figure out what's important and what's not, grab a few highlighters and get rid of any garbage you have sitting near you.
3. Find a motivator.
There are certain things people use to help motivate them and to allow them to focus. Some people chew gum, and others listen to classical music. Whatever your choice is, be sure to bring it your study workspace. If you're not sure what motivates you, try out a few things. Consider absolute silence one day and a study playlist the next. Try taking a 10-minute break to take a walk or stretch when you begin to feel restless after a few hours of studying. The more you experiment, the better you'll begin to understand what helps you get the most done.
4. Get auto-response email.
Are you constantly distracted by emails? Consider setting up an auto-response option that tells people that you'll be able to respond to them in the near future or later that day. This allows you to ignore your inbox for longer periods of time and not feel the need to respond immediately to emails.
5. Get the right resources.
Most importantly, make sure you have everything you need before you start studying. This includes having textbooks, paper, pens, highlighters and whatever else you'll need to crank out that work. Having a dictionary and grammar book can also help you move along more quickly. If you have to get online to figure out how to spell a word or research a grammar question, you might get distracted by a news article or advertisement.
Learn how UMA students get the help they need on career training assignments through Ultimate Student Services. Or maybe you'd like to get more details about online healthcare degrees and on-campus healthcare programs at UMA.
2. http://studymagazine.com/2010/11/22/creating-productive-work-study-environment/