NAVIGATING ONLINE COURSES AS A “NON-PLANNER”

Living through unprecedented times wasn’t on any of our planners and remote learning has taken us all for a loop. I tend to get distracted when I am not face to face in class, so a quick transition to all online classes left me searching for a lifestyle change.

Here are some ways I’ve managed my “asynchronous” classes as a college student during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Write down “due-days”

If you’re anything like me, you loathe reading through the syllabus and course schedule at the beginning of the semester. Let me tell you...IT. STRESSES. ME. OUT.

But I have found a simple system that helps me get through without feeling too overwhelmed. Instead of looking at overall due dates, I take note of the days of the week I have assignments due. Sticky notes are my best friend!

With no in person, or even scheduled zoom meetings, it can be hard to keep everything in line. By creating a general outline of what your week looks like, you can physically see what days can be your work days and what days you can keep open for last minute plans or other commitments outside of class.

I have found that taking it a week, or maybe even a day, at a time is the only way I get through my course load.

Find your place

I have also found it helpful to have a special place that makes me excited about being productive.

I can get easily distracted, so working on assignments in my apartment or on campus in general usually leads to scrolling on my phone, cleaning up, or driving to Target to get that “one thing” I could really use.

I personally have found a local coffee shop, Artisan 222, to be the perfect place for checking things off my list.

The atmosphere helps me stay focused, and a good vanilla iced latte is the perfect motivation to get my butt out of bed. I also like that the cafe closes at 3pm, so I can set aside a solid chunk of my day to dedicate to my assignments without overworking myself either.

Listen to your mind and body

I tend to allow my mood to shift my plans for the day. I rely on motivation to get my work done, and some days I just can't muster up enough intentional energy to do what is needed that day.

And that is okay.

I am a firm believer of being kind to yourself and allowing yourself to recharge when needed in order to perform better down the road. I learn more from an assignment when I am - at least - somewhat interested in doing it.

I also feel that it is important to not deprive yourself of opportunities because you are “working on homework” when you are really just scrolling through TikTok.

If you know you may not be productive in the time you set aside for work it is okay to veto your original plan and enjoy the time to recharge.

Know yourself

It is incredibly important to know yourself and know your tendencies when it comes to getting work done and planning out times to study on your own.

If you know that your phone will be a distraction, then find a buddy to study with that will keep you accountable for staying off your phone.

If you know that too much noise or not enough noise will distract you from your work, then experiment with different spots until you find the place for you.

If you know that you can’t stay in one place for too long, then find a new spot when you feel yourself slipping away from the assignment.

I personally find myself in a position where I have to work on an assignment even when I do not have the motivation to do so. In this case I know that I will want to get on my phone and scroll through anything and everything.

Leaving my phone at home doesn’t work for me and turning it off doesn’t help either. So, I found that posting an interactive story on Instagram gives me an incentive to get a good chunk of my work done so I can check what my followers respond when I make progress.

I don’t eliminate the distraction, but rather use it as motivation.

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Challenge yourself to find a “new thing” that helps you better focus on your work this semester and in the future!

I hope this post serves as a reminder that you are not alone in these crazy times. These past few years have been tough and all we can do is keep our head high and hope for better days ahead.