Admit it, if you’re a veteran online learner, you’ve been guilty of plopping down with your laptop, on your couch with your favorite sitcom on. Why is it on nights like these don’t you find it takes you twice as long to complete your discussion posts or finish your research assignments as those where you shut off all the distractions and buckled down?
For many of online learners, the work space we have looks a lot more like the corner of a crowded kitchen table:
photo by Mish Mish http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishmish/2753572312/
than it does like a serene home office:
Photo by drxiv http://www.flickr.com/photos/drashid/4076153424/
So, how do you strike a balance that allows you to be as productive as possible in an imperfect setting?
- The first step is turning off the distractions – set the DVR to record your favorite shows and turn the TV off, ask your spouse or a friend to entertain the kids in another room and put on your blinders to the laundry, dishes and dusting or other household chores that seem more appealing when you’re supposed to be reading. And if you have the oh-so-common habit of getting lost in the social web, check out tools like “Freedom” which blocks your internet access for an amount of time you choose. This means you will need to compose your assignments/discussion posts in an application like Microsoft Word and then paste them into the discussion board, but it is an option.
- The second step is being physically comfortable, in a manner that makes you productive and not one invites a nap. Make sure you are in a comfortable enough chair, with your computer screen just below eye level and your hands/wrists resting level with your forearms when your elbows are fully supported. Again, this ideal set up is not a reality for many online learners – so do the best you can to keep your slouching, shoulder crunching posture to a minimum and remember, take a break. Stand up from your computer for a stretch every hour, preferably more. Minimize Workplace Stress with these 4 stretches, while focused on the workplace easily translates to any work you do at a computer for an extended amount of time. The Mayo Clinic also has a great quick video on neck stretches for the office you may find useful.
- And third, you want to be sure all your friends and family understand why you are going back to school and therefore why having time and space without distractions is important. Schedule your school time and stick to your schedule, don’t let guilt from friends or family who ‘never see you anymore’ undermine this time for your school work. If you have to, physically remove yourself from your normal situation – stay late at work and do school work there (with your boss’ permission, of course), head to the local public library and see if they have a study room you can use, or try the coffee shop across town where you’re less likely to run into someone you know. And get comfortable with the word, ‘No’; the phrase ‘Maybe next year’ and get comfortable explaining that school is a priority for you right now. Eventually, those around you will understand.
So, what tips can you share about setting up the physical learning space for your online education?
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