Online courses can be daunting. How do I keep track of the due dates? How do I make time for my assignments? How do I motivate myself to do my work? Here are some tips from an “expert” who got her degree fully online. 

By Jayne Turner – Staff Member

Stay Organized

Get a Planner: A planner will help you organize due dates. Yes, Canvas usually offers a calendar view, but it isn’t always reliable. Plus, when you have a paper log of due dates, you can cross them off as you go. It’s like a reward.

Make your planner something that you want to use. Utilize color coding, reminders, motivational quotes, fun stickers, and anything that will spark joy.

Review your planner regularly! It won’t work unless you’re staying diligent about due dates. If you find it hard to check your planner, an iPhone reminder can help. 

Establish Routine: If you know that you always do schoolwork on Tuesdays, you can keep that day free to do your work without distractions. Having a variable work schedule is hard to avoid, but try to get a consistent schedule. It will help with school. 

Planners will keep you from overbooking yourself, so you can maintain that routine of reading, studying, and watching lectures. 

Make it a routine to go to the library or a local coffee shop! Work better in the evening? Tons of coffee shops are open late, so work when you work best. 

Online school requires a reliable laptop! Check out these articles with the best under $500 and the best under $2000. 

Delete TikTok… Seriously

Eliminating distractions is KEY when you are studying from home. It is all too easy to pick up your phone and start scrolling. Put the phone out of arm’s reach while you are studying. 

Still too distracting? Delete the apps from your phone. You can always redownload them later!

Doing your work on your laptop may have you worried about hackers and viruses. This article will help you protect your Mac from online threats. 

Motivate Yourself

Okay, this is easier said than done. But you must remember what you are studying for! Remind yourself of your long term goals. Will this degree help you obtain the career of your dreams? Financial stability? 

It may be helpful to calculate your grit score. The score assesses how passionate and persevering you see yourself to be. The higher your grit score, the more likely you are to be able to overcome challenges. A higher score is associated with higher mental toughness.

If that doesn’t work, reward yourself for good grades. Big rewards, like getting your nails done, are a motivation for achieving good grades. Small rewards, like candy, can help get you through textbook readings (one page read = one Skittle!)

Finally, set a timer! Knowing you are going to lock in for one hour is more motivating than just knowing that you “need to study today.” Timers create a sense of urgency, and at the end of the timer, you get a small break as a reward. 

One reason you’re struggling to self-motivate is burnout. Read this article to discover one hack to regain your mental energy. 

Get Out of the House

Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to ignite the motivation to study. The “coffee shop effect” has been shown to boost productivity. 

I notice that when my motivation to study at home fades, changing locations gives me a boost, allowing me to study for a few more hours.

Don’t procrastinate!

This is a hard one. Procrastination is so common, but it leads to increased stress and lower productivity. When you get your work done early, your schedule is freed up to relax without having homework on the brain. 

Getting your work done early is like having insurance. It protects you from illness, a bad internet connection, or a last-minute birthday dinner. 

With more online courses available, you may need to take one while pursuing your degree. Don’t let it tank your GPA! Maintain a routine, stay motivated, and keep your eyes on your textbook, not on your Instagram feed. Good luck, and happy studying!

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Author: Jayne Turner is a freelance writer from Orange, California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with an emphasis on language and cognition. She has ten years of musical theatre experience and a lifelong love of reading. Utterly excited by the brain, she brings a fresh Gen Z perspective to the topics that intrigue us most.