When you go back to college online, it is important to find a schedule that works for you. With the flexibility to work on asynchronous coursework on your own time, learning how to create a workable schedule is important to your success.
First, you want to identify your levels of obligations and commitments so you can move on to establishing a working schedule that will fit your needs. Make sure you leave about 2-4 hours in your day dedicated to studying so you don’t fall behind in your coursework.
Next, you want to ensure you have a designated study space away from noise and distractions to make the most out of your allotted study time. Then, you should be evaluating how your schedule works for you.
If you feel overwhelmed, try to offload some work for the week by communicating with your instructors so you have more time to prioritize your well-being.
To help you balance your college classes and other commitments, here is a sample daily schedule for how many of our students balance work, life, and school so that you can gauge what a typical day could look like for you.
A Typical Day:
Morning
Our students often start their days by prioritizing healthy practices to get off to a good start. In the morning, they might walk their dogs or hit the gym to ensure they get their daily exercise. Next, they make sure that they eat a healthy breakfast and/or make sure their kids are fed and ready for school.
Taking the time to complete these morning steps is a great way to avoid burnout and prioritize your well-being. Prioritizing your well-being is an important factor to your success so that you can continue to thrive and achieve your goals.
Afternoon
Many of our students are working professionals so they spend the daytime at their job. Our students make sure to take their lunch breaks at work to not overwhelm themselves and to avoid the stress of a busy day.
It is beneficial to make sure to talk to your boss about your academic goals so that you can best manage your schedule. Make sure you keep an open flow of communication so that your needs are understood and so that you have more flexibility in your work.
Evening
When our students arrive home, they make sure that they have a clean study space that is well-lit and away from distractions. This way they can look over their coursework easily and plan out what assignments and learning objectives they need to complete for the day.
Next, our students will eat dinner and/or put their kids to bed. Then, they can spend a few hours of their spare time dedicated to their studies without interruption. Most of our students spend the majority of their studying time at night.
Undergraduate students dedicate 11-17 hours of studying weekly per 8-week program and 15-23 hours of studying per 6-week program. Graduate students spend 17-23 hours studying weekly per 6-week program and 23-30 hours studying per 8-week program. These numbers equate to studying for 2-4 hours nightly.
Always remember to make sure that you don’t let your studies get in the way of getting a good night’s rest. Prioritizing balance will help you have a well-rounded lifestyle that allows you to balance work, life, and school while achieving your goals. This is the key to success in the typical life of a global campus student.
