8 Time Management Tips for Online Students

Are you an online student looking for time management tips to help you better manage your schedule? 

Do you find it difficult to manage your time while going to class and studying?

Any type of learning scenario presents its own series of time management challenges.

Fortunately, with a little bit of planning, you can learn how to successfully navigate your school time minutes and hours.

In this post, you’ll find eight time management tips to help you better manage your time.

Not in school? No problem!

Many of these tips can also be easily applied to situations in everyday life.

Pay attention to MODULE lengthS.

You’ve been watching a class that was supposed to be 45 minutes in length.

It’s been more than 45 minutes, what gives?

On further inspection, you may realize the module is actually 145 minutes long…ouch!

It’s worth double-checking the lengths of modules, classes, or sections before you begin.

This way, you can appropriately adjust your schedule as needed.

Do you need less or more time to finish your session?

Log out of unnecessary programs and appS.

Treat your school time just like you would if you were physically sitting in a classroom or lecture hall.

That means no distractions, no multitasking, and no doing anything else other than listening, watching, and taking notes.

The more distracted you are, more time you’ll spend trying to learn what was presented in class.

Be sure to log off from any computer programs or applications.

You may also want to consider switching your cell phone to silent, or turn it off completely so you can focus.

Schedule courses into your calendar.

Have a series of ongoing online classes? Be sure to enter these into your calendar or schedule so you know what to expect during the week.

While some online courses allow you take classes on your own time, you should make sure you’re taking classes on a regular basis.

Instead of just randomly logging on, make a plan to sign in during specific days of the week, as well as specific hours.

You’ll make a lot more headway in your classes and course work if you keep to a regular schedule.

Set aside time to review material.

Watching a course, seminar or lecture is one thing.

Reviewing the material and understanding it is an entirely different thing!

Be sure to set aside time to review, process, practice, and understand material you’ve learned in class.

You can schedule this time in chunks directly into your calendar.

Where possible, choose chunks of time in which to study class information.

After all, practice makes perfect!

Rotate your courses evenly.

You might be tempted to spend more time viewing or watching one course than another…you can go at your own pace after all, right?

If you have the ability to take multiple classes at the same time, be sure to rotate your courses.

This approach will help you make equal headway in your online studies.

You could create a simple spread sheet, or color code your schedule to make sure you’re on top of your courses.

Don’t wait until the last-minute.

Do you wait until the last possible moment to do your studies?

Like any type of work or study, it’s best to start earlier, rather than later.

You’ll have more time to thoroughly learn material, practice exercises, and review information should you so need it.

You never know what new information or concepts might turn up in a lesson!

Pay attention to the calendar.

Do you know when certain exercises, reports, homework, exams, and the like are due for your courses?

Similar to real-life classes, seminars, or lectures, it pays to keep an eye on the overall time during a semester.

If you find it difficult to keep track of time in the digital world, try using a wall calendar or paper planner to help you better visualize the passage of time.

Choose class hours that work for your studies.

Do you get more out of your classes when you take them early in the morning, or do you retain more knowledge from a class taken late at night?

Make the most of your time by figuring out when you learn best.

When do feel most alert, awake, and engaged during the day?

Likewise, when you find you make the most when reviewing existing material?

Answer these questions, and you’ll be sure to save yourself some valuable time.

Learn time management skills for life

Time management skills are extremely important in school, work, and life.

My time management guide will teach you how to create personal time for yourself, say no to activities, and improve your scheduling skills.

My calendar printables allow you to customize your own daily, weekly, and monthly calendars.

How about you? Which of these time management tips are you going to try? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!

5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook Mockup
About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

0 Comments

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. 5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before You Take an Online Class - […] Here is a great article by The Order Expert on how to manage your time as an online student…

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This