If you’ve ever had the thought, “I’m struggling in college and I don’t know what to do,” it’s important to understand that you’re not alone. A lot of people struggle in college. This is especially true during the first academic year. Furthermore, not everybody can thrive in an online learning environment. The current state of the world has made it difficult for many students who have done well in the past. At Educational Attainment Services, we want to help you succeed. We have six tips that can help you with your online schooling.
Establish a productive learning environment
Whether you’re on campus or learning from home, there are plenty of things going on in college that provide distractions. This is counterproductive to your ability to learn. To maximize your efforts while studying, it’s best to find a place that suits you best. For some this can be a quiet room by yourself, for others, a corner in the library works well. Find your location and do your best to stick with it.
Once you’re in your study place, do what you need to further personalize your space. If you enjoy having music on, figure out what works best to help you focus. Others enjoy complete silence. If this is the case, find a quiet place or consider noise-canceling headphones. Experiment with your space to find what works best for you.
Set a schedule for yourself
Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Treat your schedule as an appointment and don’t miss your windows of opportunity to study. One of the parts that many students enjoy about online schooling is the flexibility to fit their schedule. Although, it’s important to leverage this flexibility to your advantage and capitalize on your time outside of work and extracurricular activities.
Focus on self-care
If your classes are entirely online and you never have to leave the house, it’s easy to let self-care things like doing your hair, putting on regular clothes, or even regular showers fall by the wayside. There’s something to be said for feeling good and doing well. Be sure to focus on yourself and take care of your body so that you’re also taking care of your mind. Neglecting self-care can lead to negative thoughts, behaviors, and habits.
Treat studies like a job
When you’re out in the real world, you’re probably going to have a job that requires you to put in a certain number of hours each day and week. Treat your studies the same way. Dedicate a specific number of hours to doing your homework every day in order to maximize productivity. If you finish before your allotted time for the day, find ways to keep yourself busy during that time. Read through your notes again, review material from the chapter you just learned about, or plan out the next several days. When you have time dedicated specifically to your schooling, you’ll find that it’s easier to stay focused on what you’re doing.
Join a study group
Sometimes there are subjects that we just can’t get ahold of. No matter how much time we spend reading the book, reviewing lecture notes, or studying extra material, it doesn’t click. Join a study is an excellent way to get a new perspective. The time that you spend with your study group benefits you as you are able to take in the material from your peers as well as share your interpretation of what you’ve learned. You can have a collaborative conversation that makes learning easier for all of you.
Reward yourself
All work and no play make for a lot of stress. Treat yourself when you’ve accomplished something. Take a break from your studies and do something that you enjoy. You’ll find that you enjoy your work more as you reach more and more reward milestones that you’ve set for yourself. Whether it’s a 15-minute break to scroll through social media or a special meal after passing an exam, find a way to reward your hard work.
Get help with EAS
“I’m struggling with college.” We’ve all been there. Educational Attainment Services is here to help you achieve your goals. We understand that college is difficult and we want to help you find the resources you need to be successful. Give us a call or send us a message to learn more about our services and how you can benefit.
