The Essential Back-to-School Checklist for Online University Students

A new year is the perfect time to start fresh and try again! A blank slate doesn’t mean “start with nothing”, though.

Whether you’re new to eLearning or whether you’re back at it for yet another term, here are some things to keep in mind to set you up for a successful term at university.


Here’s your 12-Step Back-to-School Guide for Online University Students

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1 - Create a Workspace Dedicated to Productivity

Make sure you have a quiet workstation set up that’s also low on the clutter scale. This dedicated space will tell your brain “when we’re here, I need you to pay attention and work”.


A workstation doesn’t have to mean a formal desk if that doesn’t work for you. All you need is a calm place to work that keeps your brain in work-mode.


Don’t abuse this area too much. You brain will start to meander if your surroundings never change. Find secondary places to do some of your work, especially for long reading and study sessions.



One key thing to avoid is pushing your desk right into a corner or against a wall (unless, of course, there’s a window right in front of you). If you don’t have a window to look out of, try to arrange your space so that you see as much room in front of you as possible. If you HAVE to face the wall, break up the space with posters or pictures. If you’ve ever stared right at a wall for an extended period of time, you’ll understand why. This is supposed to be a learning environment, not a punishment!

Also check out: Workspace 101: Setting Up a Successful Workspace in 8 Easy Steps


2 - Have a “Before the Madness” Self-Care Day

As much as we like to pretend that “days not at school” are “days off”, they really aren’t. Sometimes this time is even busier and more crazy!


Take a “me” day before going back to school. Get plenty of sleep, play video games, watch Netflix all day…seriously, do whatever you want.

Even if it’s only one day, this re-set time will help you come back refreshed and ready to hit the ground running!

For more ideas, try these Glorious Self-Care Ideas to Try Today



3 - Catch Up on Life Admin

There’s nothing worse than going back to full-time-working-mode and realizing you have to do tons of life admin by day two. Try to have the following things all set so they don’t have to fully interrupt you right away:

  • Grocery shopping

  • Toiletries

  • Cleaning

  • Laundry

  • Banking

  • Prescriptions

  • Heath appointments




4 - Review Coursework

Not every course is going to have pre-reading, but if they do, maybe try to do it?

Seriously, though….

The best way to come back to classes successfully is to come back with your mind already in gear. Some amount of pre-reading is always useful whether it’s assigned or not (if you happen to have access to textbooks already).


One word of warning when it comes to pre-reading. Don’t do it TOO far in advance unless you’re planning on reviewing it a second time. If you’re the type of person who does homework asap “so that it’s done”, it’s tempting to finish your reading right away so you can enjoy the rest of your time off. The point of the pre-reading is to have it fresh in your mind on the first day of class, though, so reading it a few weeks in advance might not help you as much as it would a couple days before.

If there’s no assigned pre-reading (or if you don’t have access to any materials), you can always review your notes from past sessions. Even if it’s a new class, reviewing something completely unrelated can help kickstart those studying juices.


5 - Watch Something Funny


One of the best ways to kick off a good year is to watch something that MAKES you smile.

This may seem silly and pointless, but you’re more receptive to new things when you’re in a good mood.

It’s never a bad idea to make it a tradition to watch something funny the night before starting something ambitious.

Check out this article on Psychology Today for a quick introduction to the magic of smiling.

Of course, you can certainly find your smiles in other ways, such as chatting with friends or reading a funny book. Not much can compete with the passivity of watching tv, though. Watching something funny and comforting requires little effort and it practically guarantees results.

If you need a foolproof place to start, check out the 8 Funniest Animal Videos on the Internet




6 - Touch Base With Your Support Team

We all need people who will be there for us whenever we really need them. Whether this means friends, parents, councillors, tutors or therapists, a bunch of people have helped you get to wherever you are today.


You can’t expect your support team to continue to support you if you don’t give some of that love back. Ask them how they’re doing (if appropriate), and thank them for sticking around through past messy bits.

If you spend most of your time speaking to them in a crisis, it can wear the relationship down quickly. By re-connecting at a time when you’re not in the depths of stress, it can help strengthen those bonds so they can deal with more pressure again in the future. Acknowledging their help and being helpful in return is the best way to make sure they’ll stick around when you need them next time.


Maybe there’s nobody specific in your life who’s helped you, and your biggest motivator is a book or a celebrity. Even if you don’t speak to someone on a regular basis, it doesn’t mean their words can’t be your support team. No matter how seemingly unapproachable they are, there’s still usually SOME way of connecting with them via the fan mail route. If someone has helped you through stressful times, find a way to tell them. No matter how important they are, they’re sure to still appreciate a personal thank you.



7 - Make a Schedule

Courses have varying degrees of structure, but regardless of how much is set, it’s useful to make a plan. Plans can be strayed from if needed, but it’s WAY easier to find the end of a path you’ve strayed from than it is to wander aimlessly through the woods and try not to get lost.

If you have total control of your days, start with your favourite subject followed by your least favourite subject. That’ll get you some excited momentum before you tackle something more challenging. Schedule the rest of your week as you see fit.

Even if you have a fully-structured course, schedule a few of the following sessions into each week (for as long as it can be maintained)


Some of these things might happen naturally without any effort, but they are useful boxes to check if you tend to be the type of human who disappears into a school vortex and misses out on the world.

There will be times where you can’t do anything more than school…but habitualizing this variety whenever you can will help prevent burnout.



8 - Organize your Tools


It’s easy for things to get out of hand when you’re in the height of study season. Take the time while you’re not in school to make sure things are filed and labelled correctly in case they might come in handy again.


If your work area tends to descend into chaos quickly, make up a new way of putting things away so that it’s easier. Often, the reason things get out of hand in the first place is because things aren’t convenient to put away. No matter how aesthetic your work area can look when it’s all put away properly, your organization system isn’t worth it if things aren’t easy to both access and return.



9 - Pick One Study Skill to Improve

Do you remember what you struggled with MOST last term?

Motivation?

Organization?

Memorization?

Focus?

Decide on one study skill to improve this term.

If motivation is your issue, maybe get a book of inspirational quotes or start journaling to find your why.

If it was organization, dedicate yourself to putting things away every time you use them.

If it was memorization, commit to starting earlier and working on things slowly over time instead of cramming at the end.

If it was focus, try out different ways of working. Are you better if you get up and dance around once every hour? Are you better if you change locations often? Are you better if you have shorter study sessions?


Decide on one challenge area and focus on improving it.



10 - Remind Yourself of Your WHY

When you’re caught up in the hustle and stress of online school (or any school for that matter), it’s easy to forget why you’re there. That WHY is important, though. That why is what gives you the motivation to keep pressing through the tricky sessions.


Take this moment between things to make sure the why is still there. You can also adjust your why so that it better aligns with how you’ve changed since the previous first day of school.


The why doesn’t have to mean understanding the exact practical applications of every single thing you’re learning.


The why could mean:

  • I want to become (insert career here)

  • I want to prove to myself that I can succeed at this thing I find challenging

  • I want to get good enough grades to keep playing sports

  • I want to qualify for scholarships to fund my education

  • I want to earn a degree to increase my job prospects

  • I want to qualify for a grant to help kickstart my business idea

  • I want to be the first in my family to have a higher degree

  • I want to learn this because it might be useful someday

  • I want to learn this because I love it so much

  • I want to learn this because it might help me with the other thing I love so much

  • I want to learn how I learn…so that I can teach myself anything I need in the future

If you’re still struggling with finding your why check out: How to Find your Passion: A Self-Discovery Guide to Finding What You Love and Living a Rich Life


11 - Set Goals

Now, before you roll your eyes, I KNOW that you’ve probably been told this 10000000000 times before….but setting goals is a fantastic way to keep yourself motivated in the vague sea of “I’m going to try really hard until the end of the year”.

Make sure your goals are actionable and controllable.
What does this mean?


It means don’t set goals for things you can’t actually do anything about.

  • You can’t MAKE yourself get an A in a class, but you can choose to dedicate 30 minutes of every day reviewing one of your most challenging courses.

  • You can’t MAKE yourself memorize all the terms for your anatomy test in 3 days, but you can write out flashcards and quiz yourself for 3 15-minute intervals every evening.

Focus on goals that will help you achieve your desired outcome (which COULD BE getting an A), but are things that you can accomplish simply by finishing the task. Focus also on short-term goals as opposed to long-term goals. It’s easier to accomplish many specific, smaller tasks than it is to do something sort-of-specific over a long period of time.

Write your goals down and check them off as they’re accomplished. You can even share them with your friends if you need more accountability.


12 - Remind Yourself How Lucky You Are to Be Going to School

It’s easy to get caught in a spiral of things being stressful and hard, but really, going to school is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted. You have the chance to make your future better with the things you learn today.

If you don’t think the facts you’re memorizing will be useful in your future, think again. Whether you use the information or not, learning how to learn and problem-solve is the most critical aspect of any education. With those skills, you’ll be able to tackle anything your future holds.

Throughout school, you’re also given the chance to form meaningful relationships with likeminded people. It’s hard to meet other humans out in the real world, let alone finding ones who have similar interests. Even an online program gives you the chance to get to know a variety of people who are on a similar trajectory in life. These humans will become your support system once you leave, so foster those relationships and see how far they lead!



13 - Pick up: The Secret to Stress-Free Exams


Do you wish you could find actionable study techniques to help fast-track memorization?

Do you want to learn how to combat distractedness and boredom at the same time?

Have no fear, A+ is here!

~Speed up the studying process
~Study smarter, not harder
~Learn how to abolish studying burnout
~To take notes like a boss
~Study less, absorb more
~Find motivation within the abyss



So, what are you waiting for? Download your copy today!

Who is Nadya Corscadden?

Nadya holds an MA in Musical Theatre and is no stranger to the home learning scene. Having spent a good chunk of her younger years in distance education (and opting for some correspondence electives at university), she has accumulated many tricks to help maintain focus and inspiration. She has a passion for independent learning and wants to help anyone and everyone find their stride in this atmosphere whether it’s homeschooling or simply studying for that next big test!

She is also a triple threat singer, dancer and actress….and can’t wait until stages are alive again!

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