How to Create the Perfect Online Learning Setup

Create a Dedicated Workspace

Begin by first establishing a workspace that is entirely your own. This should be a place where you can attend classes and study without interruption. We recognize that not every online student is blessed with an abundance of extra space. If your home lacks a natural office, library, or guest room, it may be time to bring some creature comforts to your garage, basement, or attic. You would be amazed what a mop, a space heater and an aging couch can do to create a livable space.

If possible, your designated workspace should be something other than a kitchen or bedroom. You may be tempted to work from your comfy bed but the truth is, merging these spaces will actually erode the quality of both your work and sleep.

The goal is to create a clear separation between the schoolwork portions of your day, and other important portions of your day like family time, work, or personal recreation. Mission number one-find a space, dedicate it entirely to online learning, and make it your own.

Tune Out Distractions

Now that you have got a space, get yourself a deadbolt. Just kidding. Hopefully, you do not need a deadbolt. But you do need solitude. Find a place outside the earshot of your beloved but noisy family members. If you have kids, try to establish times when your work space is off limits to them.

The reality is that even minor distractions can completely derail your focus. According to a study by the Michigan State University Psychology Department, Short interruptions - such as the few seconds it takes to silence that buzzing smartphone - have a surprisingly large effect on one’s ability to accurately complete a task, according to new research led by Michigan State University.

In other words, a split-second disruption can cost you minutes or more. Preempt these distractions as much as possible.

Put Your Phone in Another Room

Speaking of preempting distractions, there is no greater distraction than the one that you keep on your person 24/7. Your smartphone is an amazing portal into the universe, which is awesome when you are bored. But it is terrible when you are trying to get work done.

According to Innerdrive, Research found that UK schools who banned mobile phones saw a 6.4% increase in their students’ grades. Keep this same rule whilst working from home to help reduce a huge potential distraction and keep your focus where it needs to be.

Your phone is a constantly ringing, pinging, dinging, and vibrating time burglar. Put it somewhere else.

Get Yourself Connected

While you may be putting your phone elsewhere, you still need to be fully wired at all times. Make sure your workspace has a strong WiFi connection and that you have a suitable setup for your tech. Whether you are using a laptop, or you are anchored to a wall outlet through your PC, make sure you have a desk that comfortably accommodates your machine and any peripherals you might need.

Peripherals might include a scanner/printer, webcam, headphones, bluetooth speakers, and more. Additional items might include wireless mouse and keyboard, surge protectors, external hard drives, and more. And if the location of your workspace results in a shaky WiFi connection, you may need a signal booster.

In addition to getting your tech in order, you need a workspace that accommodates this technology. Things like a solid desk, working outlets, and total connectivity will be essential.

Keep a Tidy Space

Everybody works a little differently. If you really feel you work better in chaos and disorder, we are not here to argue. You do you. But for most of us, order and cleanliness are important strategies for minimizing distractions.

According to Innerdrive, a clean and tidy work environment can boost productivity and help you focus. Put things away after you are done with them to make the tidying process easier. Take a few minutes at the end of each study session to clear your working space to prepare for the following day. This will help clear your mind and reduce stress.

A cluttered and disorderly space can cause the eye to wander in search of distractions. A stack of unopened junk mail, a collection of empty to-go coffee cups, or even an exceptionally dusty lampshade could serve as great excuses to stop working. Eliminate those excuses by keeping your workspace in order.

Find the Balance Between Comfort and Practicality

Khan Academy warns that your workspace should be comfortable but not too comfortable. You should be able to comfortably occupy this space for online lectures or long cramming sessions. But it should not be so comfortable that you are tempted to curl up with your textbook and fall asleep.

You can have a nice, ergonomically designed office chair in your workspace. You could even have a small love-seat or sitting nook for those long reading sessions. But we would draw the line at anything on which you could actually stretch out and fall asleep. Make it pleasant, but make sure your work space actually feels like a work space.

Consider an Online School Close To Home

This is not technically a recommendation about your workspace. But if all this talk about creating your own fortress of solitude has you feeling a little isolated, you might want to consider an online college closer to home.

While you may be taking most of your courses online, enrolling in an online college in your area can give you access to a campus, a community, and a host of support resources. In other words, this is a way to connect your humble little home workspace with an actual college community. This could give you access to in-person office hours, study group get-togethers, and even campus events like parties, performances, and sporting events. As a bonus, online students also have access to discounted tuition rate when attending public schools in-state.