5 Time Management Strategies to Complete Your Online Course
Online learning is becoming more and more popular, with more than one-half of all U.S. college students currently enrolled in an online course! Online learning has many benefits, but most people especially love that it gives them more control of their time and schedule. With Blackstone Career Institute’s self-paced career training programs, students have no deadlines for any exams or assignments.
Of course, you can only benefit from the flexibility of online coursework if you are able to manage your time effectively. Without the use of time management strategies, it is easy to struggle as an online student. That is why we have compiled this guide with the top five time management strategies you can use to efficiently move through an online course!
1. Plan Ahead
Because many online learning courses are completed on your own schedule, you most likely won’t have specific times set aside for attending class. Instead, you will need to implement time management strategies to designate chunks of time for schoolwork.
Most people in online learning programs have busy lives, with jobs, family, friends, and other responsibilities. It is easy to let your coursework slip through the cracks as other priorities take precedence.
Online courses require that you plan ahead. We recommend using an online calendar app like iCal or Google Calendar to block off chunks of time in your schedule that will be specifically designated to your studies.
You can block out times for an entire month, or just for the coming week, based on how busy you are and how your scheduling works. The important thing is that you specifically set aside time for schoolwork that will be free from distractions.
Whether you need to catch up on reading, complete homework, or take exams, it is important to have ample time set aside in your busy schedule to focus on schoolwork.
2. Start With the Hardest Task
One of the biggest killers of effective time management strategies is procrastination. We all do it, to some extent. As the work piles up, the thought of starting becomes more and more daunting, so we just don’t start the work at all.
A tried-and-true method of tackling your procrastination and managing your time more effectively is to take on the most challenging and/or important task first, at the beginning of your week or day.
Also known as the “eat the frog” method (thanks to a famous Mark Twain quote), this time management strategy will help you to feel productive, accomplished, and confident, all before your lunch break.
The strategy is simple: start by identifying your most difficult or important task. If you have three papers due by the end of the week, this would be the longest one or the one you feel least excited about writing! Next, dive head-first into this task. Don’t save it for later in your day or week; just dive in and start working on it now. Every time you sit down to tackle schoolwork, practice this technique. You will find yourself getting work done faster and spending less time worrying about the tasks you are yet to complete.
3. Avoid Multitasking
A lot of people associate multitasking with productivity. But the truth is, multitasking is known to decrease productivity. Instead of trying to do a lot of things with only part of your attention on each thing, try focusing entirely on one task.
Avoiding multitasking can be more difficult in today’s world, where digital distractions are constantly available. Try turning off notifications on your phone and computer for times that you are working. Many calendar apps allow you to set certain blocks of time to automatically silence notifications, which can be helpful when you are planning your work time in advance.
4. Reward Yourself
One of the time management strategies we recommend is to utilize rewards. As you look at your to-do list, try to think of a reward that matches well with each task. For example, reading a chapter in your textbook might earn you a cookie or a 10-minute break, while writing a 3-page paper might give you a trip to get ice cream or a night out with friends.
Choose rewards that you know will motivate you to complete the tasks at hand. After you’ve paired your rewards with your tasks, get started on your work and use your rewards to break up your productive time.
Rewarding yourself is one of the simplest ways to “hack” your own productivity and spend less time procrastinating.
5. Prioritize Sleep and Fun
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to increase your productivity has to do with what you do while you are not working.
In countries where work-life balance is prioritized, workers regularly report better productivity, alongside other benefits like lowered stress levels and better home life. In short, people who relax and recharge are able to show up more fully for their responsibilities.
The same concept applies to those taking online courses. Make sure to prioritize your rest, get enough sleep, and make time for the things in your life that bring you joy. The CDC states that improved sleep can help you improve your cognitive functioning, including attention and memory, which will help you be more productive when doing schoolwork. Greater energy and cognitive awareness can also help you to more diligently apply the other time management strategies.
Written by Adam Wernham
