Needless to say, virtual learning is difficult. It takes a lot of perseverance and some diligently refined study habits. After one full semester of completely online classes, here are my tips on how to be successful.
1. Create to-do lists
If you’re anything like me, routine and time management are part of your identity. But if organization isn’t one of your more polished skills, then I’m going to share how I managed to make a good habit of this in college. For the record, I will definitively say that mastery of this will set you up for success in the long run. I’ve been through my fair share of different planners, agendas and scheduling applications. However, it took me a while to figure out what was most effective for me. “For me” are keywords here. What I believe is most efficient for me may not be the same for you, but the goal is that you figure that out along the way. For now, I’ll share my secrets and maybe it will help you get a step closer to finding what works.
Breaking up assignments and working towards due dates are vital. I like to sit down every Sunday and plan my whole week. There are three things I live by: Google Calendar, my five-dollar Target notebook and my iPhone notes app. First, I pull up Google Calendar and schedule my week, filling it with events, activities and hours for my job. Then I use my notes app to write down all my assignments. Before anything else, I write down all my due dates. Then, I break up all my assignments in a reasonable way that works towards these dates. Here is a screenshot of what mine looks like.
2. Develop set study times
I like to think of classes and studying as a nine-to-five job. Now I know you may have a nine to five job on top of school so this exact analogy might not work for you, but the concept remains the same. Forming a routine is necessary to do well. Find times in your day where you can sit down and accomplish most or all of your work and try to keep this as consistent as possible. Doing this will train your brain to be most productive during these hours every single day.
3. Take productive study breaks
Taking breaks is definitely important to ensure you’re not overworking yourself. However, it is easy to get carried away during these breaks and just sit on your phone for three hours. Momentum is a force that works hard here and if you lose that force it will be hard to retrieve it. Giving myself 15 to 20 minute breaks every hour or so works best for me to continue that momentum when I return to studying. During these breaks, my favorite thing to do is read a chapter or two of a book because I like to believe this continues to stimulate the brain and keeps that energy flowing.
4. Maintain a regular sleep schedule
Old habits die hard and this was undoubtedly the hardest one for me to break. I selfishly used to think that sleep isn’t that important and I could go on about my day with only four hours of rest. This certainly isn’t the case. Without enough rest, your body and mind simply just won’t accomplish up to their full potential. Your sleep schedule is just as important as developing a good study schedule. Try to go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. Once I began maintaining this schedule, my productivity increased significantly.
5. Be positive!
Lastly, I want to note the importance of remaining positive. A positive mindset and attitude are essentially everything. Remember your goals and why you are here. This can get lost in the overwhelming nature of college, especially in these times. However, constantly remind yourself that all this hard work will pay off and that you are doing great.
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