By Lewis
More people are realizing the convenience and flexibility of online classes, especially in high school and college. No matter how many advantages these programs offer, however, there are some downfalls. For many students, it is difficult to stay focused and on-task during remote studies. Others struggle with a lack of direct interaction with teachers and other support staff. If you find yourself facing or considering online school, these five tips can help you succeed in your academic endeavors.
1. Eat Before You Turn on the Computer
Concentration can be hard to come by when you are hungry, so it is important that you start your day fully fueled and ready to go. Eat an appropriate breakfast that will fill you up and help you concentrate. What you eat can also play a big role in energy levels, as explained by Steven Gundry MD. The right mix of healthy ingredients can help you stay focused, energized and ready to tackle even the most demanding online school schedule.
You should also be aware of why you reach for food when you are studying. There is no shame in being a stress eater, a lot of people live with that reality. Instead of giving in to those urges, however, develop healthy eating habits. So, if you know you are more likely to snack when you are bored or stressed, keep healthy snacks at your desk. Fresh fruits and vegetables are an excellent choice. Snacking on whole-grain crackers with hummus is another great way to turn those cravings into a healthy habit.
2. Find a Quiet and Dedicated Place To Study
Online schools offer a ton of flexibility, so you might be tempted to study at the local coffee shop or restaurant. However, that will not give you the best opportunity for success. Instead, find a dedicated area for your studies. That might be a desk in your room, a home office, or a corner of the dining room. As long as you have regular access to the room and can safely and securely store your learning materials there, it can probably work. Over time, you will associate it with focusing on your studies.
3. Establish a Realistic Schedule
Scheduling is one of the most difficult tasks for many new students, and it is often compounded with the flexible and fluid nature of many online programs. Setting up a learning schedule will help you stay on track with assignments. This is especially important if your school has asynchronous classes where you are responsible for setting attendance periods on your own.
4. Identify the Most Important Tasks Each Week
Just like with any educational program online classes will have some assignments and readings that are more important than others. How priority is determined will be a personal decision based on your strengths, weaknesses and goals. You might need to focus more on one topic or type of assignment than another, for example. Others might choose to prioritize assignments that have a greater impact on grades. No matter how you decide which tasks are most important, once you do those must be given priority attention. Handle them first and dedicate the most amount of time to them. This will help you avoid shortchanging goals when assignments are due.
5. Familiarize Yourself With Available Online Resources
Just because you aren’t physically attending classes does not mean you are completely left to your own devices. There are tons of resources available online to help advance your studies. Your school probably has an online library arrangement so you can access research materials. Many will arrange to ship books straight to your home.
Many schools also offer virtual tutoring services or individual advising appointments for students who need extra help. Don’t be afraid to ask your instructor about study groups and peer-to-peer options that might be possible within your specific classes. After all, there is a pretty good chance you aren’t the only student struggling with either the material or online format.
It is imperative that you adopt a proactive approach to your online education. By establishing a schedule, eating a proper diet and taking advantage of resources at your disposal, you can set yourself up for success.