Distance learning has spiked in popularity around the world. The ease in which students can register in a degree of their choice, take classes from home, and graduate in record time has appealed to many busy professionals and single parents who are focused and do not have a lot of time to take a traditional courses. But is distant learning for everybody? How does an online student cope with the distractions of pursuing a degree from home in the midst of all the tasks and household chores, not to mention children?

To be successful, an online student must prioritize tasks within their day. Because classes are being taken from home, the student must ensure that a sufficient amount of time is allocated during the week to attend to studying, researching, corresponding with instructors, and completing any assigned homework. Without proper time prioritization, an online student may find it difficult to cope with the pressures that come with studying from home.

Discipline is crucial in succeeding as a distant learning student. While studying from home, a student will be met with various distractions competing for attention over coursework. If the student is a parent, their children can serve as the greatest distraction. The younger the child, the more attention they require, and the greater the distraction they will be. Many online students cannot afford daycare, and may be one of the reasons they chose online education in the first place. Another major distraction is the telephone, which can get in the way of a student enjoying quiet time to study.

Despite these distractions, anyone who wants to succeed as an online student can do so by being proactive in the way they handle distractions and upholding personal discipline. This will develop in the student the ability to manage and conquer problems on the way to his degree completion.

When choosing to earn a degree online, a student should be prepared to face the distractions that will occur in the home, and make contingency plans to tackle them. If there is an extra room in the house that is not regularly used, this should be utilized as a study area. Members of the household should be informed that you intend to use this room for study with all the seriousness that accompanies a regular degree program. Children and other members of the family should be enlisted to help you succeed as a student by allowing you the time and space you need to concentrate on your studies.

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About the Author

Shaun Redgate is Senior Associate at Liberty University and DL Adjunct Faculty Member. Over 22,000 distant learning students attend Liberty, which gives Shaun a unique insight into online education. Contact Shaun at Liberty University Online or sredgate@LibertyUniversityOnline.com