For many online students, the biggest challenge they face in going back to school is figuring out how to balance their school workload along with everything else in life. Most online students work full time and have families, so adding in time for schoolwork each week can be overwhelming at first. Here are some tips from successful Bryant & Stratton College Online students that can help you manage your time effectively:
1. Make a checklist – Many online students print out a list of their assignments for the week as soon as their folder for the week becomes available. Making a “to do” list or a checklist for the week allows you to make sure no assignments get missed and that you can reach your deadlines as well.
2. Plan ahead – If you know you have a busy week ahead at work, have events planned with your family, or are traveling, it is always a good idea to plan ahead. If you can get your work done, or at least the majority of it completed, before these other obligations you will be less stressed out and more likely to relax and have fun.
3. Don’t be a perfectionist – Sometimes life gets in the way and meeting deadlines and staying on track is more important than submitting the best research paper you have ever written. We all want to submit our best work, but if you get too focused on perfection you could fall behind.
4. Don’t procrastinate – It’s really easy to put that big project off when you have all semester before it’s due, but before you know it the deadline is approaching and you are scrambling to get everything done. If you have a big project due at the end of the session, it is best to map out small steps each week that you will complete toward the project. The hardest part of any project is getting started. The longer you put this off, the more stressful it will become.
5. Ask for help – There will be times throughout earning your degree that you will need help. Whether it’s asking your spouse to watch the kids so you can sneak off to a local coffeehouse for some peace and quiet to get your homework done, or whether you call your instructor at home for clarification on the assignment that you are really just having a tough time getting started with, everyone needs a little help now and then. Online students need a support team. This team wants to help you succeed and see you graduate. It’s always OK to ask for help.
It’s not easy balancing work, family and school obligations but it does get easier over time. No matter how proactive you are, there are going to be times throughout earning your degree when you procrastinate, or something comes up. This is completely normal. It is important to remember your end goal of walking across that stage to get your diploma. You can keep balance in your life as an online student with practice and patience.
Hello Jessica Blackmer,
My name is Denice White. This is my first time taking Online classes.
I saw the Bryant & Stratton Online Blog on How to Keep Balance in Your Life While Being an Online Student. I feel that this information will help me Balance my Life much better.
I will take your advise and follow these tips. Thank you so much.
I am a munber 3. I did so horriable in High School, I feel I need to prove to myself that I can do this. I make and print all class info. even the posts and replies. this way I keep myself up and ready for any and all problems. I do more than I should, or to be perfect in class is my goal and downfall.I wish some of the instructors would apply time management, and do their job as well as I do mine. I would be fired from a job if I preformed as poorly as some of them do. On the other hand, their are the instructors who go up and beyond their job. I have had 3 instructors that I truly know that they do care about me and my education. Fro the instructors that are true and care abut the student, thank you i really appreciate all you do for me and you get my best works. For the instructors that don’t care or the student is a burden, well you will not get a good evaluation at the end of the semester, and or you will hear from the advisors. Thank You!
dam
Denise, Welcome to Bryant & Stratton College Online! Thank you for the kind words about my post. I am glad to hear that this will help you out.
I hope you have an awesome first semester as an online student! -Jessica
Hi Doris, Thanks for commenting! I struggle a bit with perfectionism as well. Sometimes you have to just push through and say “This is good enough” or it’s just impossible to meet deadlines. I am glad to hear that you are trying to be successful in college and that you are doing a great job at it. It’s very important that you are being thorough in your instructor evaluations at the end of your courses. This allows Bryant & Stratton College to make sure we are giving students the best educational experience possible and shows us what changes to make if necessary. Keep up the great work! -Jessica
I have lost count how many sessions I have taken classes online. But I have learned that things come up and other times things are easy so you get by easier. I have had semesters where I had to go into the hospital and semesters where I have had it completely easy and everything is a breeze. The one thing I can give advice on is make sure you communicate with your professors and academic advisors especially if something comes up and you have problems making deadlines. Save all emails it will help in the long run. Also keep your head up and stay with your goals in mind. I have finished my Business Associates now working on my bachelors but also finishing Medical Adminstrative Assistant Associates. So I have had a plate full every session. Keep your head up and stay going!!
Hi Jessica,
This is my third semester at B&S and with each semester I find a different and sometimes better way of managing my online studies, family and work. I am a big believer in checklists but have not used them yet for school. I will begin using one this semester. My kids are in sports now, so I will definitely need a checklist to keep me on track.
Thanks for the tips!
What a great article you created. I must tell you that number 3- “Don’t be a perfectionist”, is the one that has given me the hardest time. This is my last semester here at B&S (will graduate in Dec with BS), and I have always busted my butt in turning in every single assignment and trying to do the best work possible. My grades show it, but sadly to say it, a sadness fills me to know all the week nights and whole Saturdays I spend on the computer for hours on end, for two years, while ignoring my family because I was making sure to turn in every single assignment to the teachers required perfection. I wish that I would have read this a long time ago. And I tell other students, to do your best but to not worry about trying to Ace every class, because now that I think of it, I would have preferred to have spent more time with my family and gotten a B or C on one or two assignments.
I am still a perfectionist at times, but I have learned how to do my best in the least amount of time. And at times, on purpose, just to be lazy and a rebel, I’ll leave out a citation or reference in a discussion…lol. Best of luck to all in your continued studies, and thanks, Jessica B., for posting such a great helpful article. -Eric
Eric, Thank you so much for the kind words. I am happy that this post was helpful to you – it reminds me of why I love doing what I do at Bryant & Stratton College Online. You should be really proud of yourself for overcoming perfectionism. It is not an easy feat! That is wonderful that you have become an advocate about this and are willing to share your experience and help your fellow classmates. Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
Thanks for the advise, this is my first time taking on-line classes. i just had a baby last week, and trying to adjust to taking on-line courses and balancing my family have been very overwhelming, so again thanks for the advise i really needed it!!!!!
Takesha, Juggling a new baby and online classes has to be tough! Thank goodness for the convenience of online classes and being able to log in whenever it’s convenient for you, right? Do you find you are able to get your work done while the baby is napping throughout the day? I’m really proud of you for being in school and a new mother all at the same time. I hope you have a really successful semester. -Jessica
This is my first year as an online student at Bryant & Stratton. I do appreciate the time and effort that the staff and instructors put into the makings of the online classes. I do however wish that some how, some way that the lectures from our instructors can go live like on a dvd or a video download. Speaking for myself as a visual person to read the lectures are good but to hearing them emphasized and elaborated upon would be helpful to me. Individuals can also benefit from a recorded voice as well. Just a suggestion…..Keep up the good work… Thank You
Thank you for an abundance of this information, because it does help with ideas, and suggestions to stay on track with a busy schedule Thank you.
Thank you so much for your help. I had taken an online class before and my first experience was so not so good. But it really great that Bryant and Stratton provides information like this to make sure student’s are successful.
Thank you Jessica. I am Jillian and this is my first time doing online classes. I am on dialysis and your suggestions on Balancing your life as an Online Student have helped me out alot. I now read while on the dialysis machine and take notes. Days I’m not at dialysis I do my computer work. This has caused me to be less stressed. I was worried in the beginning but not everything is coming along. Thank you again.
HELLO THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON LINE AND IRT DOES SEEN HARD BUT WILL GET BETTER I AM NOT GOOD IN MATH BUT WILL GET BETTER SOON GOD BLESS
IT HARD BECAUSE I DONT HAVE A COMPUTER AT HOME RIGHT NOW BUT WORKING ON IT, IT IS HARD TO GET ON LINE WITHOUT A COMPUTER ANY SUGGESTIONS ON LINE STUDENTS GOD BLESS.
I am new to this online learning but thisis one article that I found useful.
I am new to this online learning so for me it is getting use to how to use the system and how to navigate my way around the system which was time consuming. I made sure that I planned for this, I got help from my friends and family not to call me during certain times. I actually turn off the phone.I also odered my books and started reading them early. I find this is helpful when it comes time to do my projects. I have my list on hand and I keep it updated. This article really did help me to get organized. Being organized makes learning so much easier. thanks for your suggestions.