Carrying out online studies requires a lot of motivation, regularity and self-discipline. And it’s entirely possible!
Obviously, your initial motivation is essential . Everyone is capable of it with willpower, but you have to learn to believe in yourself . We all have ups and downs. We all face challenges and sometimes we need help. That’s why we decided to put together a list of 6 useful tips that can help you succeed in your online studies.
Michael Holmes graduated with a background in Open Classrooms development . He is a very active member of our community and has helped others who were struggling to motivate themselves. Today
How to succeed in your online studies?
1 — Set lower goals
“At the start of each week, I set a main goal to accomplish by the end of the week. I write it on a piece of paper and place it where I see it every day.”
“Every morning, I take a few minutes to assess my situation. What do I want to accomplish today? It is important that this objective is reasonable. Don’t aim too high because if you run into a problem or get stuck because you were too ambitious, you will be disappointed and that will be very demotivating.”
These small goals help you stay on track online studies and allow you to quickly assess your progress . If you don’t have small goals, just to complete the course, it will be very difficult to measure your progress and you will not realize how much you have accomplished.
2 — Create a schedule
“When are you going to work on your lessons?” If you don’t plan it, you won’t do it. I’m not saying you’re lazy, but I know that certain things always end up distracting us from our studies: work, spending time with friends or family. There are even more subtle distractions… our smartphone”
“These aren’t bad things, but if you don’t set a time each day where you plan to work on your online course, your progress will be slow and you won’t be happy with it. For example, if you are able to dedicate four hours a day to your studies… plan it and stick to it .
3 — Find someone to study with
Studying with other people is a great way to do this, and it’s one of the reasons why in-person training can be effective. I’m not saying it’s impossible in online teaching, not by any means. Meeting people who face the same problems as you and others who have overcome them can be very motivating.
You can do this in several ways, for example, if your school offers you to join their online community , do so and be active. Sometimes you will be able to help other students and this will increase your motivation tenfold.
At OpenClassrooms, we use Workplace so students can interact . Here is an article that explains how it can help you in your studies.
4 — Find a mentor
Imagine a football team without a coach. Aren’t football teams better with an experienced coach to guide them?
If your online studies do not include a mentoring program, I highly recommend finding someone who is willing to help and guide you .
Your mentor is not born with all his knowledge. He had to learn and he too had difficulties. He understands what you’re going through and what you have to do, and he knows your abilities and knows what you can accomplish.
One of the benefits of having a mentor is having someone to reach out to when you’re stuck on a problem or experiencing difficulty . He is not there to do the work for you, but to help you determine what you need to move forward.
Good to know : Students on OpenClassrooms degree courses have access to one-hour mentoring sessions every week. Here is an interview with Bertrand Deloffre , Marketing mentor at Openclassrooms, who talks about the mentoring process and explains how it works.
5 — Reward yourself
My first piece of advice was to set small goals for yourself. What to do when you have accomplished these goals? What to do after a week of studying that went well, or after finishing a project you’ve been working on for weeks?
It’s important that you reward yourself in a healthy and balanced way. Go out with friends, go to the movies; To do this, treat yourself.. You will feel good and you will know that if you continue your efforts, you can do even more… and you will succeed.
6 — Take care of your health
Imagine two athletes, one well-rested, with a balanced diet, and the second who sleeps little and thrives on caffeine and sugar. We know which of the two will perform better and more regularly. This isn’t a fitness or health blog, but when you study, you’re still using an essential part of your body… your brain!
Getting enough sleep at night, drinking enough water, and eating a balanced diet will help you think more clearly and concentrate better.
Also, if you sit for several hours at a time, get up every hour and walk for a few minutes. You can also do this if you’re stuck on a problem… Take a 10-minute break and go outside for some fresh air before returning to study.
It won’t instantly turn you into Albert Einstein, but it will improve your brain functions and help you focus your efforts on succeeding in your online studies and achieving your goals