From kindergarten to college, the pandemic has forced students of every age out of the classroom and into their homes to do their schoolwork. Not matter how old you are, trying to stay focused and productive when taking online classes and working independently can be a struggle.
Some research suggests that our attention span during lectures is only about 15 minutes, and lectures should reflect that. Other research suggests that humans’ attention spans are only 8 seconds, a full one second less than the average attention span of a goldfish.
Despite the disagreement in the research, we can all probably agree that trying to stay focused is difficult. We’re here to help. Here are 3 tips on how to stay productive during online learning.
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1.Set a Schedule
The beauty of learning online is that you can typically do it on your own schedule, whether you’re taking traditional college classes or trade school classes (take a look at some of these offerings if you’re intrigued by this).
That’s also one of the downsides, especially if you have a hard time with self-motivation. While you might not need to start as early as you would if you were taking classes in person, setting a schedule and sticking to it can help you ensure you get your work done.
Set times for breaks, meals, and other tasks and write them down. You can set an alarm on your phone to tell you when it’s time to get to work, take a break, or move on to something else. Without a schedule, you might find yourself trying to cram 3 hours’ worth of work into the last hour of the day.
2. Set Up a Work Space
It’s tempting to find the comfiest space in your home to work, like your bed. However, working in your bed makes it too easy to just toss your computer or books aside and take a nap. Instead, set up a workspace at a desk or a table. Have a proper chair and leave your bed for sleeping.
3. Block Distractions
If possible, set your workspace up where you can minimize distractions in your home. Put it in a quiet space with a door where you can shut out distractions in your home. You also need to block online distractions, such as social media and alerts on your phone.
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If you need to have your phone nearby, shut off notifications, and put it face down. You can also download apps to keep you off of social media and focused on your work. This is also where your schedule is helpful. If you know that you get a break in 10 minutes, it’s easier to focus on the task at hand.
How to Stay Productive and Succeed Online
Use our tips on how to stay productive to succeed in your online coursework. If you set yourself up for success from the beginning, you’ll be a lot more likely to be able to focus on your classes.
If you found these tips helpful, be sure to check out some of our other articles and come back often for new content.
