Avoiding Distraction as an Online Student

One of the biggest challenges online students face arises from one of the greatest strengths of online learning: the fact that learning can take place anywhere and at any time. The majority of material in online classes is delivered “asynchronously,” which means that students can engage material in a way that fits best into their schedule, and remain in their own ministry context while doing so. At Southern Seminary and Boyce College Online, our ability to deliver rich, rigorous seminary training in this asynchronous format brings immense value to students, and it serves the church well. But what about when you’re an online student, and you struggle with the danger of distraction? You don’t have a dedicated classroom or class time, and depending on your situation, you may be trying to fit in your coursework around full time employment and family commitments. Here are three tips to maximize your study time and minimize distractions. 

Pray

At the start of each study session, take time to devote your study to the Lord in prayer. Offer up your distraction, the other things that may be weighing on your mind, and ask the Spirit for assistance in your study. One tool that I use to prayerfully begin my own work is this prayer before study from Thomas Aquinas. Others can be found in the Valley of Vision or you can pray simply and extemporaneously. The most important thing is approaching your study in an attitude of prayer–this will help to eliminate distractions from the start. 

Turn off Notifications

You’re probably watching lectures on the same device (laptop, tablet, or smartphone) that you also use for social media, for streaming content, or for podcasts. When you study, turn off all your notifications on all your devices. It is too easy to move from a lecture to a quick check of Instagram, or a hit of breaking news, or anything else that the little alert icon might bring to the edge of your screen. Eliminate those from the start and you’ll help your brain engage fully with the learning experience. 

Establish Routines

Lastly, establish a study routine with a consistent note-taking style and a consistent block of time. If you take physical notes, it may help to take them consistently in the same type of notebook with the same type of pen or pens. If you take your notes electronically, standardize your formatting. Write questions in your margins for later consideration, or to bring up at LiveSync sessions. To organize your time, you can schedule specific days and times of the week to work on course material. If that doesn’t work for your schedule, try using something like the Pomodoro method to carve out 30 or 60 minute focused chunks of study. Establishing routines over time will put you into the mindset to learn well. If you’d like to learn more about using your time well, one book that has benefited me is Cal Newport’s Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.