McMaster threw students a curveball that some may not have seen coming—fully online classes. As many students have learned, keeping up with classes can be incredibly challenging without the motivation that in-person classes bring. Here are some tips to buckle down this semester and keep those high grades!
Scheduling is Key
Many professors have opted to run an asynchronous style class, meaning students have the flexibility to create their own schedule. Northeastern University recommends using the syllabus to note major assignments at the beginning of the semester, creating a weekly schedule and committing to it, and time-blocking to hold yourself accountable for finishing tasks.
Environment: Separate Work and Play
Whether someone is living at home or student housing, finding a new study environment that’s conducive for learning while also maintaining boundaries is essential. According to the Harvard Business Review’s Guide to Being More Productive, “Unless you are careful to maintain boundaries, you may start to feel like you’re always at work and losing a place to come home to.” An appropriate study location could be the desk in the bedroom or home office, just anywhere that isn’t for lounging or chilling. The goal is to condition the brain to associate a studying environment with working rather than relaxing.
Monotasking, not Multitasking
Sometimes, it is best to keep it simple and stick to a single task. Research has repeatedly shown that multitasking simply does not work. In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, “when we think we’re multitasking, most often we aren’t really doing two things at once – but instead, individual actions in rapid succession.”3 Eliminate all distractions when watching a lecture or completing a task to truly focus on what’s going on in the lecture. Sadly, this means putting phones away and closing the Netflix tab on computers.
Take Healthy Breaks
Finally, taking care of themselves should be students’ top priority. Staying at home all day and cultivating self-discipline is exhausting, but taking self-care breaks for mental health is absolutely necessary. A Forbes study shows that regular breaks help destress and recharge for the rest of the day. Remember to go on walks, eat meals and snacks, talk to family/friends, or engage in other self-care activities.
Citations
Review HB. HBR Guide to Being More Productive (HBR Guide Series). Harvard Business Press; 2017. 156 p.