If the lecture hall is suddenly only one room next to your bed, many lectures take place asynchronously and you slowly forget the faces of your fellow students, it is understandable that it becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate on university. On the one hand, there are of course a lot more distractions at home, but on the other hand, sitting alone in front of the laptop all the time can cause your mental health to suffer. So that you can break out of the cycle and really get started this semester, we have a few effective tips for you that really work.
Structure your day!
This tip is the be-all and end-all of productive learning. Especially for students with many asynchronous events. They really are like fertile ground for procrastination. So that you no longer have to watch lectures at 3 a.m., create a personal timetable. Of course it doesn't have to start at 8 a.m., but if you plan certain times for your courses every day, you will immediately become more motivated. The best part is that you know roughly when you will be finished with your tasks. If you stick to the same plan every week, you'll get into a routine and everything will become much easier.
You can either draw the timetable on paper in the old school way or set up a Google calendar, for example.
Don't forget to get some fresh air
Of course, you shouldn't forget the breaks in your timetable! If you plan a longer break, such as between two lectures, you should definitely go for a short walk or bike ride. The fresh air and exercise will wake you up again and you can then work more concentratedly.
This action is also generally important for your physical and mental health, because as every online student knows, days can go by when you don't leave the house.
Try new learning techniques
By trying out learning techniques, you can discover a more effective method for yourself and make learning easier. It also helps to break out of monotonous learning. This will make your brain more likely to remember what you learned because it was “special.”
For example, you could add movement to your learning by hanging your study notes in different places around your home. When you move while learning, the brain remembers the information more easily. So, no matter how stupid it sounds, you might try writing flashcards (questions on the front, answers on the back) and walking around your apartment while you study.
However, the best way remains to find out what type of learner you are. If you are aware of this, you can demonstrably learn more in less time . Here we will show you how to find out your individual learning style.
Of course, there are also endless interactive learning apps.
How to avoid distractions
The biggest distraction: of course the cell phone. It's best to leave it switched off in another room so that you don't reach for the device without thinking. Because if you have to get up to get your phone, you'll reconsider whether you really need it.
The laptop/tablet is also a source of distraction, but also your connection to the online university. That's why I recommend setting up a separate user on the laptop where you only have university stuff. This means you won't get any WhatsApp, iMessage or Spotify notifications like you would on your normal laptop account.
Plan your evening
This doesn't sound like a very effective tip, but it is. Because if you have fixed plans for the evening, you cannot endlessly procrastinate the tasks you have planned for the day. You have to have everything ready by this time because you don't want your friends to have to wait for you. You can also really relax because everything has already been taken care of and you don't have to feel guilty.
