5 Tips for Studying at Home
with An Online Degree
Online degrees carry a wide range of advantages, including convenience, cost, and sheer flexibility. They’re extremely popular, and more people than ever are nowadays choosing to study online rather than attending a bricks-and-mortar university. Of course, it can sometimes be difficult to study at home (where there are lots of distractions), but these tips should help.
#1 Make an Office
One of the worst mistakes that you can make is to try and study in a busy part of the house, perhaps a lounge or kitchen. Studying in one of these areas means lots of distractions from televisions, mobile phones and other people. If, for example, you’re studying a complex program like an online Masters in Management, then you’ll need somewhere much quieter. Establish an office in a secluded part of the house, perhaps in a spare room or bedroom that isn’t used during the day. Collect all your supplies and shut the door.
#2 Schedule A Regular Time
One of the biggest advantages of online study is its sheer flexibility. You aren’t bound by college timetables, and you’re free to study as and when you can. This can also be a downside if you don’t make a regular timetable. It’s easy to put study off if you don’t have a schedule, and some people find that life simply “gets in the way” of their online work. To combat this, draw up a full timetable that’s convenient for you, leaves time for other commitments, but remains fixed. This is the best way to ensure that you get the work done.
#3 Let Friends and Family Know
Friends and family will wish you well in your studies, but they might still interrupt when you’re trying to learn. Studying from home gives the impression that you’re free, when in reality, your timetable is just as congested. Rather than dealing with constant interruptions, let the people that you live with know what you’re doing and why. Tell them how important your studies (and, by extension, your timetable) are to you and explain that you don’t want to be interrupted while working. Having a door that you can close on the rest of the world helps, too.
#4 Take Breaks
As tempting as it is to “cram” hard and try to complete as much work as possible in a short space of time, this hurts your academic career. Working too hard and without breaks leads to stress and burnout, harming your ability to work in the future. No matter how tight your timetable, schedule in at least a few half an hour breaks. This will help you to relax and return to your studies with renewed vigor.
#5 Reach Out
Just because online study doesn’t take place on a college campus doesn’t mean that it has to be an isolating experience. You’ll be able to connect with tutors and other students via email and video chat, and you should take advantage of these opportunities. Moreover, there are plenty of thriving online student communities that you can join. This allows you to connect with students across the world, providing much needed support if your studies become difficult.
