Is Your Online Degree Draining You? Here’s How To Stay Motivated

According to a Mckinsey June 2023 survey, 65 percent of students who preferred online learning experienced some aspect of virtual education, such as recorded lectures, easy-to-access resources, and the flexibility to balance work and studies. While the public perception of online learning is continuously changing daily, many still lose self-confidence and motivation to learn from them.

Online degree programmes in India are provided in multiple subject domains, including humanities, sciences, and management. Several UGC-approved online degrees from top universities help students gain industry-relevant skills, enhance career prospects, and secure leadership roles without disrupting their professional commitments.

While it is important to stay disciplined and create a strict schedule to enhance academic learning in online degree courses, flexibility also plays a key role in balancing studies with professional and personal commitments. Effective time management, self-motivation, and setting academic goals can further maximise learning outcomes.

How to Stay Motivated and Disciplined in an Online Degree?

Lack of motivation is a common challenge for students pursuing an online degree as virtual education requires self-discipline and consistency. Without a structured classroom environment, students may struggle with time management and engagement. The following points highlight the ways to stay motivated and disciplined in an online degree:

Set Clear Academic Goals

Setting a clear academic goal provides direction and purpose to progress continuously and stay motivated toward the target. Plan your specific academic calendar and set a time and date to complete a particular target.

Tips: Set short-term goals and long-term goals. UG students can complete assignments two days before the deadline and focus the remaining time on their semester exams. While PG students can divide their plans weekly, prepare for exams five days a week, and complete assignments on weekends.

Also Read: Can Online Degree Outpace Regular Degree?

Create a Dedicated Study Space

A well-organised study place enhances productivity and decreases distractions. Many times UG students face noisy environments at home, while PG students deal with jobs. Students must create a designated place where they can study focused and effectively.

Tips: Set a particular place at home where you will find peace and a silent environment. It can be your separate room, a particular corner of your home where you keep your books and study material. Don’t study in bed.

Follow a Structured Study Schedule

Create study plans for study timetables, and implement the plan effectively every day. Don’t give excuses for breaking the fixed schedule, follow it properly to help you to stay consistent and achieve your goals.

Tip: Irregular study schedules will not help you to achieve your goals. Plan properly from waking up in the morning till sleeping time.

Develop Strong Time Management Skills

Balancing studies, work, and personal life can be overwhelming. A working professional pursuing an online HR degree used a digital planner to manage deadlines. By prioritising tasks, she reduced stress and completed coursework efficiently.

Time management skills are most important to achieve your goals. Students need strong time management skills to balance their job, study and personal commitments.

Tips: Plan your daily and weekly routine properly, where you set a timer for each task. You can also use Google Calendar to remind yourself and avoid last-minute rushes.

Stay Engaged with Course Materials

Many times online learners lose their interstate because of virtual mode and the absence of physicality in online learning. In such time, students can participate in quizzes, watch related videos, and do some research on relevant topics to stay engaged with materials.

Tips: Participates actively in debates, discussions, and quizzes and asks queries in live lectures. Take notes in online lectures and search online resources related to your topic.

Avoid Procrastination and Stay Consistent

Procrastination is one of the most common challenges. Many times students delay assessments and projects, which creates stress and mental fatigue. Students should divide the task and set a particular time to complete the task.

Tips: Do not plan a big task, break it and divide and complete it within the time. Start working on your assignment five minutes before the scheduled time.

Celebrate Small Achievements and Stay Positive

Students should celebrate small achievements whenever they complete any task before the deadline. You can celebrate in many ways by treating yourself; this will enhance your motivation and encourage consistency.

Tips: Students should note this achievement that will help them to stay motivated. They should celebrate this achievement by spending some break-time on their hobbies.

Also Read: Pursue These Online Programs at Your Own Peril, Read on to Know Why

Key Strategies To Overcome Common Challenges in Online Learning

Online learning provides numerous opportunities and benefits, but it has many challenges. Many times students struggle with a lack of motivation, distraction, self-discipline, and time management. Below are some tips to overcome common challenges in online learning:

• Track your progress weekly to boost your confidence and consistency level.
• Break the task into smaller steps, give 25 minutes for the study, and take a 5-minute break, this will help to overcome procrastination.
• If you struggle with maintaining focus, then consider working for 90 minutes followed by 20-minute active breaks. This method enhances productivity without causing burnout.
• Utilise time management AI tools such as Todoist, Clockwise to prioritise tasks, stay organised, and maintain a productive study schedule.
• Interact with peers and faculty by participating in live discussions, debates, and quizzes that help to enhance your network.
• When you have to complete multiple tasks at the same deadline, then create an effective plan and divide time for each and complete it accordingly.
• Maintain a consistent interest in staying engaged in live lectures while also utilising recorded sessions and study materials for enhanced learning.
• Never hesitate to reach out to instructors for clarification or guidance when facing academic difficulties.

An online degree plays an important role in providing numerous opportunities and shaping the future of students. Undergraduate and postgraduate students should follow these tips and strategies to stay focused on their studies, achieve success, and make the online learning experience knowledgeable.