5 ways to fit studying into your life

So, you're new to studying online? It can be tough to juggle your plans alongside an online qualification but the best part about an online course is that you can tend to it at a time that suits you. Yes, there's convenience that comes with this form of learning but if you're not careful, you can quickly fall behind schedule and be less motivated to tackle those assessments.

Whether you're a busy professional or a stay-at-home mum, here are five effective ways you can fit studying into your life. 

1. Look at your current schedule and plan ahead.

When you're managing full-time work as well as a side-hustle, things can get a little tricky. Make contingencies when it comes to your work and personal commitments and be realistic. If you want to make time for your studies, you'll need to ensure that you have a period where you can focus and tend to your assessments. 

Consistency is key and the more you chip away at your studies, the more progress you'll make in the long run. Keeping organised helps, so set realistic expectations and do what you can to make online study work for you. 

2. Adopt good study habits.

Procrastination is the enemy so adopting good study habits can be a challenge if you're prone to getting distracted. Set some boundaries and know when things are due. It can be easy to make plans with your friends but filling up your schedule without some study time in place is a recipe for disaster. 

It might be worth your while incentivising your study milestones so you're less prone to feeling guilty if you choose to go out to dinner one night instead of studying. Make it your mission to gamify your studies. For example, after every completed assessment, you get to reward yourself with a Netflix marathon or spending quality time with a loved one.

Other tips that can help form good study habits:

• You can use study hacks like the pomodoro technique where you focus on a task for 25 minutes and take a break for 5 mins.
• If you can't concentrate at home, set a time where you can go to your local library or cafe to knock over a couple of hours of study.
• Communicate to the people you live with, either your roommates or family, that you need to be left alone for a couple of hours so you can give your studies the undivided attention it deserves. 

3. Understand when you're most productive and block off study time during that period.

A key part of balancing online study with your commitments is knowing when you're most productive. One of the best ways is understanding your peak time when it comes to working on a given task. Do you like planning out your mornings and getting the big tasks out of the way or are you a night owl that is productive during the mid-dawn hours? 

Understanding when you're most productive can be key in helping you tackle your studies faster, especially if you know what time of day you reach peak productivity.

If you're not quite there yet in terms of knowing when you're most productive, here are some ways you can find this information out:

• Kat Boogard from Inc, writes that the way she found out when she was most productive was using a time-keeping app to keep track of the time she spent on tasks. In her case, she used the application, Toggl, and it was helpful in terms of the integration it had with other popular-used applications like Gmail, Google Docs and Trello. Here, she was able to determine what time she spent the most on various projects during what point of day. In her case, she found that the times where she was most productive was between 8AM and 10AM, as well as 7PM and 9PM. 
• Check in with yourself regularly and keep yourself accountable during your study blocks. Blocking distracting websites and putting your phone aside can be efficient in helping you be more productive.
• If you find that you need an energy boost, it may be worth understanding the foods that are healthy for your brain. Having a rich diet can help boost your concentration and focus on where it matters.  

4. Ensure that you have a good study space. 

Working on your bed or dining table isn't going to be an effective space when it comes to your studies. Having a good study area allows you to focus and concentrate on the assessments you have to do as part of your qualification. 

According to EZ Living Interiors, here are some tips that can help you build a decent study space:

• Ideally, have a study area that is separate from the living space, bedroom and kitchen. 
• Make sure that you choose a space where you have privacy, meaning that it is in a low-traffic area where you are undisturbed by family or roommates.
• Spend good money on a comfortable chair that provides adequate back support and ensure that your study area has enough space for you to place your laptop or computer, books and other resources.
• Avoid creating a study space where you're prone to having access to potential distractions such as the TV or anything else that minimises productivity. 

5. Understand your learning style.

One of the best ways to make your study sessions count is knowing your learning style preference. We all learn differently so the way another person absorbs information may not work for you.

Online study may suit "solitary" learning types, however, studying a course with Upskilled has the added benefit of role-play type assessments, which might work well for people who happen to be a physical or social learner type. 

By understanding your learning style, this means you can be more productive during your study sessions, grasping key concepts in a short amount of time. 

Need more productivity tips for online study?

Be sure to follow our SkillsTalk blog for more handy tips to make the most of your study sessions. We post fresh content every week - from the latest news to job search tips, you can find reads that may inspire you to build the career of your dreams. 
 

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