5 Strategies for Creating a Good Study Environment
3 Min Read
Online courses are accessible, convenient, and often very flexible with your busy schedule. However, as an online student, sometimes you may struggle with staying motivated and focused on coursework during your online degree programs. Juggling work, family obligations, and school can feel overwhelming.
Creating a distraction-free, quiet study area is important to your success when earning your degree online. Here are some tips to promote positive study habits and create the perfect study environment.
Make Time for Your Online Courses
Getting your degree online is a big commitment. Set yourself up for success by making time for your online studies. Create a schedule that allots a few hours every night or every few days specifically for your online studies and stick to your schedule. Make sure that your studies are among your top priorities.
Minimize Distractions
Distractions can sabotage your best efforts at studying. Social networking sites, family commitments, and projects around the house can take your attention away from studying. Figure out what your biggest triggers are and try to eliminate them from your study area. Log off of Facebook and Twitter, hire a sitter, or go to your local library to find a distraction-free study zone.
In addition to the library, you may find it easier to study in one of these locations:
- At Work: Your lunch break is a great time to get some extra studying in for your online courses. To have a little extra time in the evening, you may opt to study in the breakroom. If you find that you don’t have that extra 30 minutes to an hour to study outside of your work obligations, try a lunch break study session.
- Gym: Get both your heart and brain pumping by squeezing in some studying at the gym. Gym rats can study flash cards or even read a textbook chapter while burning calories on the elliptical or treadmill.
- Outdoors: If you are the outdoorsy type, online courses allow you to study alfresco when it’s convenient for you. Whether you’re out on the lake studying in-between snaps of the fishing reel or on a blanket in your favorite park, you can get some extra reading done under a sunny sky without a lot of distractions.
- Coffee Shop: Get your caffeine fix at your favorite local coffee shop while studying for your next exam. A coffee shop is great if you are on the go, traveling between workout classes, social commitments, and other obligations.
Organize Your Study Space
Clear out a corner of your home and designate it as your study zone. Clean up the clutter and organize your things to create a space that is specifically designed for your online studies. Make it comfortable and engaging. Get filing folders to organize paperwork and consider organizing your computer files to make it easier to locate coursework and assignments.
Schedule Breaks
Allow yourself a few breaks during a heavy study session. Scheduled breaks can help you recharge and re-energize during a marathon study session.
Keep a Good Attitude
Stay positive, determined, and committed throughout your online degree program. A positive attitude can help you overcome challenges along the way and keep you on track toward graduation.
Use Your Study Strategies for an Education Degree
When you have figured out which study habits to adopt, you can earn a degree in education online. Concordia University, St. Paul offers several online education degree programs that can help you advance your career and meet the diverse needs of students. Each program offers the flexibility that busy adult students require.