How to Crush Your Online Classes

                                                      

MacBook ProWhether you’re a freshman in college, or you consider yourself to be a battle worn soldier of academia, starting a new semester of classes is stressful. On top of that, compared to “normal” school years, we have to navigate a new and challenging learning environment. From my own experience, as a student, I can absolutely attest to the difficulties that online learning presents. That being said, from my previous attempts (and failures) I have developed and outlined the following strategy which I can guarantee will ensure consistent success, as well as minimize stress.  
First, you have to tailor your workspace to promote productivity. Find a quiet room and either set up a table or buy a desk. The key here is to find somewhere that has little to no distractions. I would recommend finding somewhere close to a window. Nature has a therapeutic effect that is powerful when you’re trying to get into a state of intense concentration. Another option would be to find an outdoor workspace. Maybe that’s a lawn chair in your backyard, or a picnic table at the park. Another essential step is to make sure you have all the equipment (pencils, pens, calculator, laptop, etc.) that you need ready before you begin working. This prevents the urge to get up and do something else. If you already have everything you need within your reach, you're a lot less likely to get up and get distracted. A bonus tip is to light a candle while you’re studying. The relaxing scent, combined with the hypnotic dancing of the flame can drastically improve the quality of your focus and concentration.

person writing on a bookA schedule is an extremely important way to structure our day and keep track of assignments and deadlines. However, I recommend creating a study schedule before you sit down to write that paper or crunch out that calculus homework. First, write down what you actually have to know, or get done during that study session. Then, outline a short, three or four step strategy in your notebook for how you plan to achieve this. Once you have this written down, schedule some breaks. I find that the simple act of scheduling breaks before I even start gives me the incentive to keep working. Essentially, this is an example of the light at the end of the tunnel concept. Finally, I recommend setting a timer. A fairly common study method is called the pomodoro technique. Essentially, what this involves is setting a timer for twenty-five minutes, and doing your most intense studying, reading, or writing in that time frame. Then, once the timer rings, take a five minute break. This method utilizes a reward (a five minute break) to push yourself through some difficult work, as well as prevent fatigue.

black iPhone 7Finally, you have to develop a resilient mindset. Embrace the fact that this is going to be a challenge. In fact, dive head first into this experience, knowing that every single hardship that is presented is a challenge that will strengthen your mental resilience. See the value in what you’re learning. If you are studying something that doesn’t excite you, then why are you studying it? Use this time as a catalyst for changing your own life. Take this time to focus on you and your goals. Focus on your grades, and make this semester the one that you get a 4.0. Hit the gym hard, and start running. Why not make this the semester that you actually focus on your body and get into the best shape of your life? I can guarantee, that you’ll find that as you start focusing on embracing the little challenges and crushing your goals, gradually, the bigger problems won’t seem quite as big, and you’ll realize that you’re out of the valley and well on your way to a more successful and productive future.
                                               

 

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