You鈥檝e heard the phrase 鈥淓veryone has the same 24 hours in a day.鈥� While technically true, it isn鈥檛 helpful when you鈥檙e struggling to get everything done. Managing time effectively takes a lot of planning and determining what works for your situation.  

Students taking classes online are often juggling other priorities as well, like working full-time jobs, raising children, and trying to maintain a social life. While it may seem impossible, plenty of online students have found ways to capitalize on their time in order to succeed in school and life. It just takes some planning and determination. 

5 tips for managing your time as an online student 

If you鈥檙e looking for ways to successfully juggle all your responsibilities while taking classes online, consider implementing these time management tips for students. 


1. Commit to using your calendar 

If you don鈥檛 already use an online calendar, start doing so today. Having a command center to see all your meetings, class schedules, assignment deadlines, and personal obligations can be a game changer. A big part of managing your time effectively is simply knowing what needs to be done so you鈥檙e able to prioritize. 

There are a lot of easy yet effective tricks to getting the most out of your calendar. Consider starting out with these: 

  • Block time: Do you tend to procrastinate starting big projects? You鈥檙e certainly not alone. Set yourself up for success by reserving one- or two-hour blocks for study or work time. You鈥檙e more likely to hold yourself accountable if it鈥檚 already on your calendar. 

  • Color code: There are many ways to use color coding to help you comprehend your calendar at a glance. For example, try choosing a shade for personal commitments (medical appointments, lunch with a friend, etc.), another for school (essay due dates, upcoming tests), and one for work obligations.  

  • Set reminders:  for repetitive tasks or one-off obligations can help you free up mental space and build good habits. For example, you can set up a recurring reminder at the same time every day to stretch, take medications, drink water, call your mom, or anything else. It鈥檚 also useful for ad hoc assignments or events. 

  • Integrate: If you use other productivity tools or platforms (Slack, Teams, HubSpot, etc.), be sure to integrate your calendar(s) into the apps so you don鈥檛 miss anything. 


2. Minimize multitasking 

With so much of our lives taking place online and on devices, multitasking seems as natural as breathing. It may seem like you are saving time and being productive, but  the opposite is actually true. Most people  how good they are at multitasking; instead, they鈥檙e just switching between different tasks and taking longer to complete anything at all. 

When you鈥檙e faced with complex tasks 鈥� like writing an essay or a lengthy discussion post 鈥� being interrupted by email alerts, text messages, and social media notifications can impair your focus. Consider the following tips to avoid this: 

  • Reduce distractions: When you鈥檙e already on the computer, it鈥檚 easy to become sidetracked by social media, the news, shopping, or anything BUT the task at hand. If you鈥檙e struggling, consider eliminating the temptation altogether. There are phone and computer apps designed to block access to your favorite time-sucking sites. Also consider turning your phone on vibrate to avoid further distraction.  

  • Set a timer: Pick one project or task, and set a timer for at least 25 minutes. Do your best to work only on what is in front of you until the buzzer sounds. Reward yourself with a quick break, and repeat. Many people find that  them get more done in less time.   

  • Find a focus playlist: If you鈥檙e someone who enjoys listening to music while working, try to notice what songs, artists, or genres help you concentrate. There are thousands of premade playlists all over the internet, or you could make your own.  


3. Create a comfortable study space

It鈥檚 a rare luxury to have a home office all to yourself. But with a little trial and adjustment, you can still create a designated place for studying. It鈥檚 especially important if you spend time on video calls because you need a stable internet connection, adequate lighting, and minimal background noise. Try testing out different spots in your home, then choose the one that鈥檚 most comfortable, and tailor it to your liking.  

An improper work setup can lead to chronic aches and pains, especially you鈥檙e pulling long hours sitting at the computer. While you certainly don鈥檛 have to spend money to make a comfortable study area, you might benefit from investing in things like: 

  • Blue light-blocking glasses to combat glare from screens 

  • External keyboard and computer monitor to reduce hand and eye strain 

  • Adjustable sit/stand desk to spend less time sitting 

  • Noise-canceling headphones to block out distractions during deep work 


4. Take advantage of your school鈥檚 student resources 

Many schools provide a variety of academic support programs and/or advisors to help connect students with helpful resources. Bellarmine University鈥檚 Student Success Center, for example, offers free peer tutoring for 100- and 200-level courses across many disciplines, plus individual and small-group sessions on writing and test taking. 

Just because you鈥檙e taking classes online doesn鈥檛 mean you don鈥檛 have access to the support your school offers. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the available offerings so you鈥檙e aware of the resources you have access to should you encounter some difficulty. 


5. Strive for balance 

With so many competing priorities, carving out a space for yourself can seem difficult. It is easy to lose sight of the big picture when your to-do list seems never-ending. Even getting enough sleep 鈥� something fundamental to your mental health and physical well-being 鈥� can seem impossible at times.  

If you feel guilty for sometimes choosing a nap over homework, remember that you鈥檙e in an endurance race, not a sprint. Prevent burnout by taking time for rest, relaxation, hobbies, or whatever self-care looks like for you. Put it on your calendar if you have to! 

Here are some tips for prioritizing personal wellbeing: 

  • Set realistic goals, and reward yourself for achieving them: Breaking up large projects into smaller, actionable tasks helps keep you motivated. Work backwards from your deadline, and plan out working sessions in the days/weeks leading up to the due date.  

  • Learn the art of saying 鈥渘o鈥�: Achieving balance requires transparency about new boundaries and demands on your time. It can be awkward to turn down friends and family, but clear and honest communication can help mitigate any hard feelings. It鈥檚 better to do a handful of things well than an armful of things poorly.    

  • Make time to be offline: When is the last time you disconnected entirely from the internet? If you can鈥檛 remember, you鈥檙e definitely due to unplug. Even if it鈥檚 just for an hour or two, it鈥檚 important to get some time away from your screens.


Find success taking online classes 

Now that you鈥檙e armed with these time management tips for students, your next semester of online classes should be smooth sailing. At 农夫导航, even online students feel a part of the close-knit community. This is one of the many reasons students feel at home. 

Learn more about what makes our students thrive in our article 鈥�7 Signs You Belong at 农夫导航.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;