Staying at home has helped people find time for all activities without wasting their energy on traveling to their workplace. Since the education sector shifted its operations to the internet, students and teachers have been enjoying the sessions from the comfort of their homes. This has helped them spend more time with their families. Moreover, the pandemic has led to people reconnecting with their dear ones and good old ways of stimulating creativity. But online learning has not generated the best results for many students, and the studies and surveys go on to prove that such issues are caused by the lack of time management skills in students. They should know how to use the remaining time after the classes to refine their knowledge by learning on their own, which should not also mean that the students must pay attention only to studies.
It is important that they focus on all the aspects of developing life skills. Teachers must design their online learning platforms in such a way that the sessions also cover the topics of time management. If you are a student who is also working, you must be able to balance all the tasks accordingly. Everyone, regardless of their duties, should know how to manage time effectively when they have time on their hands. Let us look at a few tips that can help online students in their journey of learning time management.
1. Plan for a Week
Not everyone can stick to a generic timetable for a month or two. It would be best if you plan by setting aside time for each task depending on how much effort you need to put into it. Online students may have flexible times, but this does not always ensure better time management. When anyone is provided with plenty of time, wasting it would only take a nap or a movie with popcorn. So, you need to plan for a week, with detailed breakdowns for each task. Add all the assignments with their submission dates to the schedule, and mark them as urgent if they are to be completed soon.
2. Multitask Only If You Can
The key to excelling at something is concentrating on that particular task. If you spend time trying to multitask, you may lose interest in all the assignments. Make sure you do it only if you are made for such adventures because not everyone has the capacity to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Experts recommend that students should not try doing different things at the same time; so, it would do you only good if you have set a schedule for each subject and task.
3. Stay Away from Distractions
One of the major issues students face with online learning is that they tend to get distracted easily. A solution to this can only be mindfulness, which can be promoted within yourself when you are in a locked room with no noise. However, there’s always a chance for the students to get distracted. You need to work on your determination, concentration, and dedication to optimize your time for studies. Such issues are mostly affecting the students attending recorded sessions. Try your best not to pick recorded lessons; instead, go for the live sessions that keep you glued to the screens for an hour or so. If it is not a practical solution, set a timer for the duration of the session and learn. You could also take 5-minute intervals after every 25-30 minutes.
4. Set Your Table
This is one of the first things you must do to stay focused when you are engaging in online learning. A cluttered and untidy space would create blocks in your mind. Clear your room and set your table and equipment before joining the session.
5. Find a Balance
Online learning platforms have created a system for the teachers and students to set lessons flexibly. Find ways to create a balance between work and study so that you can dedicate time to all tasks over the week. Never stop at balancing the works; reward yourself each time you accomplish your plans.
6. Sleep Well
Make it a point to sleep whenever you can comfortably spend 7-8 hours in bed. Try to get uninterrupted sleep every day so that you get to relax your muscles and mind. If you find it comfortable studying in the noiseless dark of night, make sure to take naps in the morning. Schedule your online learning sessions accordingly.
Make Online Learning Time-Efficient
Students and teachers need to set aside some time to contemplate the best ways to manage time. When you have sessions to attend or present, make the best out of every minute you've got. You can follow the aforementioned techniques or even create your strategies and schedules. Work on your concentration, physical and mental health, and personality as much as you put effort into completing the lessons and tasks at school and work.
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