Sophia
Self Discipline and Motivation
I’m going to begin #onlinecourses in a few days and I’m not sure how I will stay on top of them. I have to get through 20 courses within the next 12 months, and have 8 weeks to complete each course.
My question is, how do I stay on top of the work and receive good marks?
#motivation #onlinecollege #gapyear #accelerated #college
4 answers
Karen Lin
Karen’s Answer
Hi Sophia,
Sounds like you have a large course load. I definitely struggled with self discipline and motivation in college. In my experience, I improved my motivation by setting small goals everyday and working toward a bigger goal. Achieving the small goals helped improve my motivation. For example, I did a 30 day challenge with my friends to keep each other accountable to study a certain amount of time for each class. It takes 30 days to build a habit, so once you start building good study habits, your self-discipline will improve. Best of luck!
Anastasia K
Anastasia’s Answer
Online education offers a lot of convenience for flexible work/life balance, but it can definitely be a test of self-discipline! I found that the most beneficial thing for me was creating a structured schedule for each of my courses. At the beginning of each semester/trimester, I would review my syllabi and due dates. Organization will be a huge component of staying on task. I used a planner that built out my day/week for dedicated time to each course. I found it helpful to try and create as much of a organized routine as possible to have a sense of control and alleviate some of the stress that comes with heavy course load.
I hope this helps and good luck with your education! You got this!!
Abby Lasky
Abby’s Answer
Hi Sophia,
I started grad school myself earlier this year, and what has worked well for me is having a plan and sticking to it. Each Sunday I review all my coursework for the week and plan out when I'm going to get it done. And I always make sure to schedule a night off as well, to avoid getting burned out or too stressed. Personally I like a physical planner but using the calendar on your phone can work as well- or even more effectively if you program reminders about when to start work.
If you put in the work, it's likely that you will do well, but if you have questions about some of your coursework, don't hesitate to reach out to the instructor for clarity. That way you can feel comfortable that you're on the right track.
Good luck on your journey!
Abby recommends the following next steps:
Karey Detzler
Karey’s Answer
Hi Sophia,
I have been a virtual employee for 16 years and taken many online courses. What works for me is not procrastinating. As soon as you have an assignment and time to do it, get it done. Having work hanging out there over your head becomes a dark cloud and a burden. Getting it done right off gives you a feeling of accomplishment and will give you the drive you need to continue. By not procrastinating, you allow yourself to get the coursework done thoroughly and precisely rather than rushing at the last minute and risking your grades.
I've also found that screen shots have been huge in adding me come exam time. Notes are always great but since you can't capture everything, screen shots can be vital as a reference to go back to.
Hope that helps. Good luck!!
Karey