Finding the motivation to study can be hard. Especially when curveballs are constantly being thrown at you. You might feel tempted to give up. But it’s important to remember why you started in the first place and remind yourself of those goals. Don’t give up just yet. There are so many ways you can regain focus and stay motivated while doing distance learning.
Why Distance Learning is So Important
There are many great benefits of distance learning. It teaches students all about independence, time management, and adapting to change. These are all great qualities that will benefit you in your future career. Here are some of the main reasons why distance learning is important.
Makes Learning Accessible to all – Classroom learning isn’t accessible to all. There are many restrictions at traditional learning institutions that prevent learners from enroling or furthering their education. Factors such as location, wheelchair accessibility, and campus hours play a huge role in making decisions. The great thing about distance learning is that none of those things are a factor, because distance learning strives to make education accessible to all.
Work While Working Towards Your Dream – Got financial responsibilities that need to be taken care of? You should never feel pressured to choose between giving up your financial stability or your future plans. With distance learning, there is room for both. There are no scheduled classes. Which means that instead of giving up your job to attend morning classes, you can enjoy flexible learning hours.
Challenges Distance Learning Students Face
Distance learning or remote studying is not a new concept. This method of learning has been around for years. Due to all that’s going on around the world, most learning institutions had no choice but to embrace distance learning. But with it came challenges. Especially since most students aren’t familiar with this style or method of learning. It’s hard to stay motivated while doing distance learning. Adapting can be a challenge, and this is some of the challenges faced by students:
Isolation and loneliness – Bustling and noisy classrooms don’t exist with distance learning. Studying on your own can become lonesome. You might lose your desire to learn without having someone relatable to interact with.
Technical issues at home – Not everyone has the resources to study effectively from home. Issues such as load shedding, internet connectivity, and lack of other resources could prevent you from being productive or finishing your tasks on time.
Internal and external distractions – Learning institutions are built for education and they promote environments for effective learning. At home you might get distracted by noisy neighbours, or the informal environment may demotivate you from studying.
Lack of in-house student support – Teachers, lectures and tutors are easily accessible at learning institutions. They constantly remind students to finish tasks, and provide instant feedback. With distance learning, you won’t get to see them in person and have to finish tasks on your own.
Time management – There are no scheduled classes, which means you need to create your own. Your learning hours are flexible and hours unlimited. This could create a false sense of security, because you might think that you have all the time in the world. It might come back to bite you.
Stay Motivated With Distance Learning
You are not expected to transition to distance learning smoothly. If we’re being honest, even so-called traditional learning is flawed and comes with its challenges. It all depends on the student, and how they adapt to the environment and face obstacles. Here’s how you can stay motivated while doing distance learning.
Create a Schedule That Works
Figure out whether you are a morning person or a night owl. Which time of the day are you most motivated to learn or when are there minimal distractions? Your schedule should also revolve around your other responsibilities. Be realistic when you work out your study hours and set goals for yourself.
Join Online Study Groups
No more than ever you need to surround yourself with people who have the same goals and face the same challenges as you. Online study groups and forums are your best bet. Here you can express your concerns about the study material or challenges you may face. You may even offer support or advice when you figure out a study hack or how to solve a problem.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help
It’s always nice to figure out problems on your own. But when you are genuinely confused or can’t solve a problem on your own, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Here is where study groups come into play. You can ask one of your classmates for help first. If they don’t have the answer for you, send your lecturer, teacher or tutor a message.
Treat it as a Job
One of the biggest mistakes students make is they underestimate the flexibility of their schedule when it comes to distance learning. The one way you can overcome this is to treat distance learning as a job. Put in those hours with your books and indulge in the knowledge you will receive at the end of the week or month.
Dress the Part
Loungewear and pyjamas are comfortable, and some may argue that comfort is key. But you won’t get the results you need if you stay in your comfort zone. Make an effort to get up and dress up to hit the books. Dressing for success can also mean getting dressed to study. A change of clothes and promoting personal hygiene can change your overall mood.
Embrace Technology
Don’t be a prehistoric dinosaur, embrace technology. This could only benefit you. There is no such thing as an unfair advantage when it comes to embracing technology in education. There are so many resources available to you online. The most intimidating part is getting started and getting the hang of things. There are also many computer courses available to help you.
Reward Yourself
Studying should never feel like punishment. Reward yourself when you reach your goals. This will help motivate you and encourage you to push beyond your best. Celebrating the small victories will also help you focus on your progress and prevent you from beating yourself up for coming up short.
How Skills Academy Keep Students Motivated While Doing Distance Learning
For every disadvantage of distance learning, Skills Academy came up with a solution. We are committed to providing our students with excellence service and want them to progress with their studies. Here’s how we help our students stay motivated while doing distance learning:
- World-class student support at their beck and call
- Free access to Together We Pass study groups
- Excellent study material delivered to you
- Our study fast pay less policy encourages student excellence
We go the Distance so You Don’t Have to
Still not sure how to stay motivated while doing distance learning? Why not choose the institution that goes the distance for you? We even minimise the stress of that dreadful signup process – our friendly course experts will work you through every step.
- Call us for free on 0800 39 00 27
- Or fill out this contact form for a call back.
