The “back to school” season is dreaded by many students since they get too leisure-loving being in the holiday mode. However, following certain smart tips can make it easier for students to get into the “switch-on” mode that is required to get back to School. After all, a new school year or a new school course is all about starting afresh with new zeal and dreams of achieving high. Devising smart routines, diligently practicing certain disciplines etc. are some of the major steps that can help you to get back to school.

Here are six top back to school tips for online school students:

• Making a list of the long term and short term goals

Setting goals with your heart can get you completely switched-on. When you create a list, you have a visual form of all your dreams and the steps that you need to take to achieve those dreams. This simple list has the power to keep you driven and motivated throughout your upcoming online course. It gives you an ideal mindset of learning and achieving new things. You need to prioritize your goals as well in ranking order. Make sure these goals are attainable by the end of the year. After all, staying focused consistently is the first criteria to be a top performer.

The truth is that you need to know the real purpose before you undertake a task. When you have no purpose, you are like a headless chicken running with the rest! So, decide your purpose and goals before starting your new online course. All your goals might not be education-centric. They can be anything related to any of your interests or likes such as sports, exercising, writing a story etc. Just make sure you prepare the list more with your heart and less with your mind!

• Maintain organization throughout the course

You can take a few or millions of steps to stay organized. It is all up to your own satisfaction. Just make sure it affects your work in a positive way. You can allocate a specific room or space for your coursework. Make sure this place is airy with good ventilation, spacious and peaceful with the least amount of distractions. The study chair and desk should be comfortable for your posture. There should be enough space for your computer, books, and other accessories.

You can label folders to organize notes and sheets. It is a healthy practice to stay organized both with virtual and paper materials. In short, bring organization into anything and everything! After all, it is the key to concentration, self-drive and consistency.

• Come up with a strong schedule

Creating a schedule is the starting point of your new course. Make sure to create a smart and feasible schedule. Keep all the important things in mind while creating a study schedule. These important things include your unique learning style and pace, your learning pattern, the learning method that you favor: auditory, visual or kinesthetic, your and your family holidays and many such factors.

The truth is that online school provides you with a lot of flexibility. So, if you start misusing this freedom, it shall take very less time for you to deteriorate in your academics. You need to exercise proper self-control and develop a sense of responsibility to make proper use of this flexibility. Make a proper plan to manage your time productively. You can write down on a calendar all your responsibilities including non-academic ones like sports training, guitar practicing etc. try blending hardcore studies with fun activities in between. Get a schedule. Maintain balance.

• Self-motivate yourself with rewards

Sometimes, you might get disheartened when you do not get rewards from others even on performing well. This might demotivate you if you already had expected too much from the other person like your mom, dad or tutor. The best and safest option is to reward yourself. If you have fulfilled a goal in your list, you can treat or pamper yourself with a sumptuous meal or catch up with the latest movie. No matter whether the goal attained was small or big. You should boost yourself up as you moved one step closer to your biggest goal.

You might even plan a small vacation, adventures trip, or fun hang-out with your best friends or family! Just make sure that you resume back your studies after the small “break”. Such rewards shall cheer you up internally, make you calm and focused to work on your next goal. This technique can reduce your stress level to zero. You shall find yourself learning with a much more open mind. When you have such happy and positive energy around you and in you, you are bound to score well in your upcoming semester or assessments.

• Get well-familiar with your online course and online resources

You should take your own time in studying the syllabus and knowing about the faculty members first. You can further ask your online instructors, principal or Admissions Officer to further shed more light on the syllabus, the expectation pertaining to the student’s performance and scores, the varied options available for electives if the case is applicable etc. thus, get all your basic queries cleared out before you start a course. As such after starting a new course, new queries arrive. So, get your basic queries sorted out beforehand.

• Keep yourself motivated

It is very essential for you to keep the fire ignited throughout the course. You can gather self-motivation in multiple ways such as reading motivational magazines or books, watching motivational videos and listening to motivational songs. If not out-and-out motivational, at least make it a point to keep yourself positive.

Following these five tips can make it easier for you to make a jumpstart! It is almost like taking a vow or making a resolution to learn well in your new course. Be hopeful, positive and systematic. Dream high and score high!