Time Management Strategies to Thrive Online
Update: As of December 2019, Jami Rush is Dr. Jami Rush upon completion of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership program. Congratulations, Dr. Rush!
Online students have a lot on their plates. Many juggle work, family, and social lives on top of school work. 
Jami Rush knows the balancing act well. In addition to her role as Director of The СAPP Learning Center, Rush is pursuing her doctorate in while juggling roles as a wife and mom.
She offered some tips for staying on top of your studies this semester so you still have time for the СAPPeverything else.СAPP
Keep a calendar
ItСAPPs something students hear over and over because itСAPPs vitally important to not only have a calendar but to make it part of a morning, afternoon, and nightly routine, says Rush.
Being in a hybrid program, Rush says itСAPPs wholly her and her cohorts responsibility to be proactive about research and assignments between face-to-face meetings.
СAPPIf I didnСAPPt have my planner, well, I start to feel anxiety just thinking about not having it,СAPP she says. СAPPIСAPPve made sure every week I have something that IСAPPm doing thatСAPPs working towards whatever project or assignment thatСAPPs going to be due at the end of the week or whenever we meet in person.СAPP
She encourages students to maintain their regular coursework schedule even if thereСAPPs a holiday or other break.
СAPPDonСAPPt use that as an opportunity to completely disengage from your schoolwork, keep your scheduled class days or lecture times in your calendar and follow through with that obligation,СAPP she says.
Doing so will keep you on-task and allow you to see where you can enjoy down-time without falling behind.
СAPPKnow itСAPPs OK every once in a while to say, СAPPOK, I need to have fun,СAPPСAPP Rush says. СAPPYou need to have that balance where youСAPPre not stressed all the time.СAPP
As a working nurse practitioner, Dr. Samantha Lilley says setting a schedule was key for her academic success and maintaining a work-life balance as she completed both her Master of Science in Nursing online and her Doctor of Nursing Practice online at the СAPP.
СAPPI didnСAPPt just hope I had time to spend with my daughter or hope we had time for a date night,СAPP she says. СAPPWe planned for park days, we planned for family time. If I wouldnСAPPt have, I donСAPPt know if it would have ever happened.СAPP
Track your progress
ItСAPPs important to remember that you are responsible for your education and progress, and itСAPPs incumbent upon you to know how youСAPPre doing in a given course.
Rush recommends keeping track of all the feedback youСAPPre given in order to keep a running tally and prepare for future exams and projects.
СAPPThereСAPPs a wonderful sense of relief when you calculate your grades and you see you need to make a 39-F on the final exam and you can still finish with an A,СAPP she says. СAPPOn the flip-side, you do your averaging and see, СAPPoh, I need to make a 76-C if I want to finish with a B or an A.СAPPСAPP
Knowing where you stand allows you to stay focused and know when you need to reach out for help by connecting with other students or taking advantage of tools like NetTutor to meet your ultimate academic goals.
СAPPThereСAPPs no guarantee youСAPPll be told how youСAPPre doing. ItСAPPs on you,СAPP says Rush. СAPPNobody wants you to fail, but you need to make sure you take control.
СAPPСAPPHow am I doing?СAPP is an absolutely OK question to ask.СAPP
Give yourself breaks
Using the Pomodoro Method, or something similar, dedicate yourself to a set block of time to work before taking a break to shop for gifts or scroll Instagram.
Rush says she learned about this technique during a lunch-and-learn held by the Grad School (Facebook link) and itСAPPs been a СAPPgamechangerСAPP for getting things done.
It works like this: set a timer for 25 minutes of work, take a 3-5 minute break, and then repeat. After four work sessions, take a 15-30 minute break, which Rush says СAPPfeels like Christmas.СAPP
СAPPAnybody can focus on a task for 25 minutes, whether itСAPPs read for 25 minutes or write for 25 minutes or study or create your flashcards СAPP or whatever it is,СAPP she says. СAPPFor four rounds of 25 minutes, youСAPPre looking at a little less than two hours, and thereСAPPs so much accomplished because youСAPPre not distracted during that 25 minutes going to different things. ItСAPPs a wonderful technique.СAPP
Several apps and websites are available to help implement this technique. Some even offer additional settings to block certain websites (think Amazon, Facebook, etc.) during that time or shut down other functions completely to limit distractions.
Build a support system
A semester is 15 weeks not forever, Rush says, and itСAPPs crucial to find people who understand that.
СAPPDuring this 15-week period, IСAPPm going to probably say no to you because I have something else that cannot wait,СAPP she says.
As an online student, those boundaries are especially important.
СAPPIf you were on campus and going to class, would you consistently be asked to skip class to go to work? Would you consistently be asked to skip class to hang out with your partner or to start dinner early?СAPP Rush asks. СAPPWhat would be the reasonable expectations of you if you were on campus? If you set those expectations early and maintain those expectations, it will become a habit for you and the people in your life so you can easily manage your time.СAPP
She also suggests finding an accountability partner.
СAPPSomebody who shares a common goal, whether itСAPPs passing the same class youСAPPre both in or someone who started with you in the same semester, somebody you can encourage to keep up with their work and somebody to challenge you,СAPP she says. СAPPYou work together in that regard.СAPP
If you want to learn more about the resources the СAPP provides to support online students, keep reading with, СAPPTake Advantage of These Resources.СAPP&Բ;
