5 Study Tips for Success -- How to Thrive as an Online Student
When You’re An Online Student, You Can Succeed AND Exceed
Everything is online these days. Why should school be any different? No matter what challenges life throws at you, there’s always tomorrow. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional classroom learning -- whether you’ve missed too much school, are in danger of not earning your high school diploma, suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders, or any other reason -- you can get a real education in an online setting with Success VLC.
When tomorrow does come and you’ve decided to start your online learning journey, we suggest you follow our five handy tips for successful studying.
Set Your “Study System”
One of the most freeing things about being an online student is to have the ability to create your very own, personalized study system. Don’t be afraid to break your own rules, though.
Consider the following questions:
Do I prefer taking notes from a physical textbook or an e-book?
Should I use different colored highlighters to break up information?
Would flashcards help me to memorize?
Can I read my material out-of-order?
When should I incorporate breaks?
Make A Study Plan and Goals
As a student, you’ll find that your most precious and limited resource is time. It’s always fleeting, and it always seems to sneak up on you when you least expect it. Do yourself a favor--expect it. The best strategy for making sure you don’t run out of time while studying is to plan, plan, and plan some more.
Also, be efficient with your time. Setting specific, achievable goals for your study sessions will help guide you along the way.
Here are some study goals we recommend to make the most of your time:
Plan when you want to study and for how long.
Decide the length of the notes you want to take.
Land on a number of pages to read.
Quiz yourself and set a percentage of correct answers you want to achieve.
Find A Study Space
Avoid procrastination by choosing a well-lit, distraction-limited study space. It’s like setting the table for dinner. Everything should be organized in its place before you dig in.
Among the places where you DON’T want to study:
Your bedroom, because it’s a place for relaxation, not focusing.
Your living room, because where there’s a TV, there’s a major distraction.
A busy, public place, because, again, it can be very easy to lose focus.
Find a Study Buddy
Accountability is a must. Let’s face it, we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to keeping on-task. That’s why asking a friend to study with you is always a good idea. You’ll want to still implement your own “study system” so that you have structure. But it’s not to say you can’t follow your friend’s study plans and goals too.
If you’re trying to recruit a study buddy, consider these people:
Friends from previous schools or extracurricular activities.
Family, such as siblings or cousins who may be in school, too.
Neighbors who will always be just a few steps away.
Don’t Cram; Study Daily
Cramming information into your brain is like forcing the round peg into the square hole. It might slightly fit if you try hard enough, but it definitely won’t stay for long. The best way to actually retain what you’re learning is to make studying an every-day habit.
Infamous in the school system, cramming can cause the following negative side effects:
Long study sessions can actually lead to decreased test scores.
Increased stress from the pressure of last-minute studying.
Poor eating habits, as your routine can be impacted.
Get Started On Your Online Student Journey Today (Or Tomorrow)
If you are ready to take the leap, face life’s challenges, and meet your goals, contact us here at Success VLC., we feel confident we can help you choose a school, finish high school, get your diploma, and become successful.