In recent years, many students have been able to access higher education thanks to a real possibility in this technological age: distance learning. With it, there's no need to adapt your routine to attend university in person, nor is it necessary to spend money on commuting, for example. Flexibility and autonomy are among the main advantages of this modality.
But distance learning has its challenges. These same benefits require a good deal of commitment and responsibility on your part. After all, a simple oversight is all it takes for subjects to pile up and for you to not take full advantage of the classes, wouldn't you agree? Just imagine the damage to your learning (and your grades at the end of the semester)!
If you follow our tips, you'll learn how to study remotely effectively and productively today. Is that what you want? Then keep reading carefully!
1. Before you begin, do some physical exercise.
Up to this point, you might be thinking: what does one thing have to do with the other? The answer lies in the concentration and energy you gain from physical activity, which can be very well used for your studies. So, what better strategy than combining the enhancement of your routine with quality of life?
When we talk about physical exercise, it doesn't have to be anything too elaborate or strenuous – like weightlifting or a 10km run. To start, it's best to take it easy, with a light walk and activities to improve breathing. Then, you can look for some sports or individual workouts to get your body moving more.
To ensure you reap the benefits of these activities, a good tip is to adopt a healthy diet. Do you know why? When you sit down to review the material in the virtual learning environment, you won't feel that tiredness and overwhelming urge to drop everything and go to sleep. Your mind will be free to focus on what really matters.
2. Tackle the difficult subjects in the morning.
First of all, get a good night's sleep to go along with the energy you'll get from eating well and exercising. You can wake up with more energy and get right to studying if you make it a habit to sleep at least seven hours a day. This is best done in the morning.
But if you have commitments during those times, such as work, the idea is to understand when your most productive period is within the time you have available. Set aside the subjects or content you find most difficult to dedicate yourself to during those times. This way, your mind will be stimulated to better understand and retain that knowledge.
Many students think that studying late at night is a good idea, especially on the eve of exams. But remember that quality is more important than quantity. This means that it's better to dedicate 40 minutes with full focus than 2 hours with a distracted mind.
3. Listen to your studies during your free time.
You know those moments when you need to go out to run an errand? Or when you're waiting at the doctor's office to be seen, for example? Instead of browsing social media, you can create a study routine for those times. Audio content is a great option and avoids carrying a heavy backpack full of books.
The first step is to record this content. You can start by reading the available materials on the subject and selecting some of the most important passages or topics, noting them down on paper or in a notepad on your computer. Then, turn on the recorder (it can be the one on your cell phone) and start explaining what you understood.
To complement this, check if there are podcasts about your area of interest – many streaming platforms are investing in this format. There might be a professional discussing the very topic you're studying, offering opinions on trends and challenges in the market. Imagine how interesting that learning could be!
4. Create a reward system.
Do you feel that your biggest problem is a lack of motivation when it comes to studying? Often, it seems that the ultimate goal, which is a successful career, is so far away that we don't see results from our efforts. Therefore, work with goals. Think about what it takes to achieve what you want: understanding each subject, taking a supplementary course, getting good grades on tests, and so on.
For each goal achieved, set yourself a reward. For example, upon passing all your subjects for the semester, take a whole weekend or long holiday off on a trip or even just at home. Take a break from studying to relax your mind and catch your breath.
But it can also be something simpler, to help you better visualize the small victories. Each week with a complete study routine, allow yourself to watch a series on Sunday or visit a park during your trip.
5. Combine activities during your study routine.
Have you noticed that when you spend hours just reading articles and handouts about a topic, it seems harder to retain the information? There are times when the words even seem to get jumbled up. To overcome this problem, it's important to diversify your study activities. How so? It's simple!
Between readings, find some exercises to solve. Put what you've learned in the books to the test and practice until you truly understand the material. If you can't find questions on the subject online, try other techniques. Among the main ones, we can list:
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summaries and abstracts;
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flash cards;
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Pomodoro method;
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mind map;
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self-explanation.
Put this idea into practice from the beginning of the semester to achieve better performance. Another helpful alternative is to use study apps, which are useful for time management, productivity, concentration, and, most importantly, organization. When you have notes and extra materials in one place, you leave no room for procrastination.
Studying remotely doesn't have to be another headache in your routine. So, always keep in mind the benefits of distance learning and how it makes a difference to your productivity. To make the most of it, invest in organization and technology, and in a short time, you will see positive results in your performance.
