Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Building The Perfect Study Space: How to Learn from Home Effectively

Distance learning in Toronto is geared towards potential students who want a college education from a reputable institution, but can't go to class for a number of reasons. Be it work, family, or other personal issues, a course in distance learning can give you that education from the comfort of your own home.

But it's still a college education, and it won't be any easier. Indeed, it now comes with the challenge of being able to work effectively in a location you usually unwind in. There are ways to study and learn effectively in your own home, and this all comes from someone who's spent a good deal of time both working and learning from home. Some tricks you can pull include…

Getting dressed
It's a small thing, but a surprisingly effective one. Not having to go outside can result in you lounging around in your pyjamas all day, which adds to a feeling of lazy lethargy. While you don't have to dress office-formal, taking the time to change, wash up, and put on clothes you'd be comfortable going outside in can be an excellent way to put yourself in a productive mood.

Don't spend forever setting it up
More than anything else, not overthinking it is essential. Spending two hours making a nest is a waste of time you could spend doing the thing you're building that nest for: To learn. Figure out what you're going to do in advance, and set it up quickly, even if it's not exactly the way you like.

Similarly, if it turns out a space isn't working for you, don't spend time leaving that space and rebuilding elsewhere unless it's a total emergency. It's better to steel yourself and carry on then spend time moving around.

Make sure the space is isolated
This is particularly important if you're going to be cohabiting while you have to get work done. Whatever desk, table, or other space you choose to get your work done in, make sure you aren't going to be pestered. Go somewhere out of the way, lock the door, and don't answer intrusions.

Bring food, water, and other essentials to the table
Maybe this sounds extreme, but lunch can turn into an hours-long delay when you're at home and don't have an enforced delay. On the other hand, taking some healthy snacks to your study space, along with something to drink, can keep you in that space for a bit longer. Make sure they're healthy though, as a bag of chips will only make you feel burnt out.

Consider unplugging
If you have a phone, shut it off. But more importantly, if you have a computer, try unplugging the internet whenever you can, or disconnecting the wi-fi. Your learning experience may be online, but not all of the material will require a constant connection. It's a lot harder to tab over to other websites when you have to reconnect the internet.

Have someone monitor you
This one's tough, but potentially rewarding. When the only person you're accountable to is yourself, personal goals, including what you'll get done in a single day, tend to fall by the wayside. The only thing you're really missing out on in distance education is someone else keeping tabs on your activities. So, if possible, have someone else check up on you. Set a goal, and tell a friend or family member, and have them ask you how you did after. Having something to prove to another person is a powerful motivator.

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