Let’s be real for a second – it can be tough to stay motivated while being an online student. After all, you’re working on your own, at home, and so it’s easy to get sidetracked. But don’t worry – we’re here to help you learn how to stay motivated in an online course!

Today, we’ll provide our top 20 tips for staying motivated. Plus, we’ll also offer some helpful advice for when you feel the urge to give up. So, keep reading for all the tips you need to succeed in your online courses!

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Before we get started… Want to learn more about the self-paced, online courses offered at QC Pet Studies? Here’s everything you need to know about us!

How To Stay Motivated In an Online Course: What’s The Best Method?

Honestly, it’s different for everyone! Some people find that setting goals helps them stay on track, while others prefer to study with a friend or family member. Everyone learns differently – and so the perfect method for one person may not be the perfect method for another.

Ultimately, it’s all about finding what works best for YOU!

20 Tips For Staying Motivated As An Online Student

That said, here are 20 general tips that will help ANYONE stay motivated while taking an online course…

Tip #1: Get organized!

The first step to staying motivated is to get yourself organized. We recommend sitting down and making a study schedule for yourself. From there, make sure to stick to it as best you can!

After all, since most online courses – such as the ones offered by QC Pet Studies – are self-paced, it can be easy to fall behind if you’re not careful.

Tip #2: Set goals!

One of the best ways to stay motivated is to set goals for yourself. For example, you could say “I will finish this course in X weeks” or “I will get an A on my next test.”

Then, once you reach your goal, you can reward yourself! This could be something as simple as taking a break or treating yourself to something you’ve been wanting for a while, such as a new book or video game.

Tip #3: Use a planner!

Another great way to stay motivated is to use a planner. This will help you keep track of everything you need to do – from assignments and tests to due dates and deadlines. Plus, it can be really satisfying to check off tasks as you complete them!

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Tip #4: Join (or create) a study group!

Studying with friends or family members is a great way to stay motivated. Not only will you be able to help each other out, but you’ll also have someone to hold you accountable.

And if you can’t find a study group, don’t worry! You can always create your own by reaching out to other students in your course.

But what if you can’t find others who are also in your course?

Try looking for online forums or social media groups dedicated to your program or field of study. For example, if you’re training with QC Pet Studies, you could search for online forums/social media groups dedicated to dog grooming and/or dog training.

Tip #5: Take breaks!

It’s important to take breaks while you’re studying. After all, if you try to focus for too long, you’ll probably just end up getting burned out. So, every once in a while, take some time to relax and do something you enjoy.

This could be anything from taking a walk or playing with your pet to watching a movie or reading a book. Just make sure you don’t take too many breaks, or you’ll never get anything done!

Tip #6: Create a positive study environment for yourself!

This tip is especially important if you’re working from home. Make sure your study space is comfortable and free from distractions. This could mean working at a desk in a quiet room or setting up a laptop in your favorite coffee shop.

Whatever works best for you, just make sure you’re in a place where you can focus and get things done!

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Pro Tip: This awesome blog article by Joyce University offers 10 wicked tips for setting up a comfortable study space from home!

Tip #7: Get enough sleep!

It’s important to get enough sleep, even if it means you have to wake up a bit earlier to get your studies done. After all, you won’t be able to focus or retain information if you’re exhausted! So, make sure you’re getting at least eight hours of sleep each night – and if you can, try to stick to a regular sleep schedule.

Tip #8: Eat healthy and exercise!

This may seem like an odd tip, but it’s actually really important! Eating healthy food and getting some exercise will help you focus and stay energized while you’re studying. Plus, it’s just good for your overall health!

So, make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and try to get some exercise every day – even if it’s just a brisk walk around the block.

Tip #9: Take advantage of resources!

Most online courses come with a variety of resources, such as forums, blogs, articles, and videos. So, if you’re ever feeling stuck or need some extra help, be sure to take advantage of these!

For example, if you’re having trouble with a particular concept, you could watch a video or read an article on the subject. Or, if you need help with an assignment, you could reach out to the school’s Student Support Team. They’ll be able to pass your questions and/or concerns to your tutor, who can then provide the guidance you’re looking for.

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Pro Tip: Are you a student of QC Pet Studies? If so, make sure to check out our blog, Sniffin’ Around, for all sorts of informative articles and industry advice!

Tip #10: Don’t be afraid to reach out to Student Support!

On the topic of contacting your school’s Student Support Team, don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help! That’s what they are there for, after all!

Take QC’s Student Support Team, for example… Whether you have questions about the course material or need help with an assignment, we’ll be more than happy to assist you. You can reach us seven days a week by phone, email, or live chat – whichever is easiest for you!

We understand that studying online can be tough, so we’re here to help you every step of the way!

A business woman works remotely at home on her laptop with a modern interior and her pet dog. Stay motivated article.

Tip #11: Don’t feel the need to rush!

Now, you may be worried that if you don’t rush, you’ll run out of steam sooner. However, this isn’t necessarily the case!

In fact, studies have shown that taking your time and working at a moderate pace can actually help improve your focus and concentration. So, if you’re struggling to stay motivated, try slowing down and seeing if that makes things easier for you.

Again, most online courses are provided to the student at their own pace – and usually with a decent window of time to complete the program. QC Pet Studies, for instance, gives students two full years to finish their course. If you were to devote even just 1-2 hours per week on your QC course, you’d still be able to graduate in as little as 3-6 months.

Thus, you can take comfort in knowing that you’re able to use as much or as little of that two-year timeframe as you want/need!

Tip #12: Try not to compare yourself to others!

One of the most common traps students fall into is comparing themselves to others. Maybe you see that other current students have completed more units than you have, or they’re moving through the course faster than you are. Similarly, perhaps there are graduates of your program who were able to finish the course in a shorter timeframe.

That’s okay – and it’s in NO way a negative reflection of you or your learning habits!

It’s important to remember that everyone learns at their own pace. As such, the only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself! If you can see that you’re making progress – even if it’s slow progress – then that’s all that matters.

Tip #13: Celebrate your successes!

Whenever you complete a task, big or small, be sure to give yourself a pat on the back! Doing so will help you feel good about your accomplishments and encourage you to keep going.

And trust us, even the smallest successes are worth celebrating!

So, if you finish reading one chapter of your textbook, get a 100% on a quiz, or receive an awesome grade on one of your units, make sure to give yourself a reward! After all, you deserve it!

Tip #14: Remember why you enrolled in this online course in the first place!

When you’re feeling down or unmotivated, take a few minutes to remember why you wanted to enroll in your online course in the first place. For example, ask yourself:

  • What were your goals?
  • What did you hope to achieve by taking this course?
  • How will completing the program help you reach those goals?

Answering these questions can be a great way to jumpstart your motivation and get you back on track!

Tip #15: If you’re bored (or stuck) on a certain part of the course, switch to a different part!

Boredom is one of the quickest ways to kill motivation. So, if you find yourself feeling bored with your current task, try switching to something else!

For example, let’s say you’re working on QC’s Dog Grooming Course, and are currently in the part of the unit that covers canine behavior.

You may be struggling to get through all the information because it’s just not interesting to you. In that case, instead of forcing yourself to plod through that section of your textbook readings, why not switch to a different one?

After all, there are plenty of other things that are covered in that same unit!

Obviously, you’ll need to come back to the lessons on canine behavior later… But for now, you’ll be much better off working on something that actually holds your attention.

Tip #16: Take your time on your practical assignments!

In QC Pet Studies’ online courses, there’s an ample amount of real-world, practical assignments. Getting good grades on these assignments can determine whether or not you’ll pass or fail a particular unit. But when you’re trying something for the first time, you might not get it right away… And this can lead to frustration.

Instead of beating yourself up over it, remember that everyone makes mistakes – even professional dog groomers and trainers! The important thing is that you learn from your errors so that you don’t make them again in the future.

So, whether you’re taking a QC course or a different online course, remember that even if you don’t nail your practical assignments on the first try, don’t let frustration cause you to give up. Rather, take your time and really focus on perfecting your technique.

Because one you do nail it, your motivation will come rushing back and completely skyrocket!

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Pro Tip: Here’s a perfect example of a practical assignment in QC’s online Dog Grooming Course!

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Tip #17: Get organized!

If you’re anything like us, then you probably have a million and one things going on at any given time. This can make it tough to stay on top of your online coursework! One way to combat this is by getting organized. For example, create a schedule or use a planner (see Tip #3) to keep track of all the different things you need to do.

You can also try using a tool like Trello or Asana to help you keep track of your assignments and progress. Doing so will help ensure that you don’t fall behind, and will make it easier for you to stay motivated!

Tip #19: Set smaller goals if your current goals feel too overwhelming!

Back in Tip #2, we recommend setting goals for yourself. However, you still may find yourself struggling to stay motivated because those goals feel too daunting. If that’s the case, try setting smaller goals instead!

For example, if your goal is to complete an entire online course in two months, that might feel completely overwhelming (and sometimes, even feel downright impossible). But if you break it down into smaller goals – like completing one unit per week – it will seem a lot more manageable.

You can also try setting goals for each individual assignment. For example, let’s imagine again that you’re a QC student. In this example, we’ll pretend that you’re enrolled in the Dog Training Course and are currently on Unit B.

Instead of telling yourself that you need to complete five practical assignments, you could set a goal of completing just one assignment per week. Not only will this help the task feel less daunting; it’ll also help you track your progress and feel a sense of accomplishment as you check those assignments off your list!

Tip #20: Regularly review your progress!

Finally, we recommend that you take some time at least once a week (but ideally, more often!) to review your progress. Doing so will help you see how far you’ve come and how much closer you are to reaching your goals!

It can also be helpful to reflect on any challenges or obstacles you faced during the week and what you did to overcome them. This reflection will not only help you stay motivated – it’ll also help you identify any areas where you might need to make some changes or adjustments.

How To Motivate Yourself During Online Classes When You Feel Like Giving Up

It’s normal to feel like giving up at some point during online classes. Whether you’re struggling with the material, feeling overwhelmed by assignments, or just generally feeling unmotivated, there will be times when it feels like too much.

If you ever reach a point where you feel like you’ve hit the proverbial glass ceiling, take a step back and remind yourself of these three things:

1. Everyone Struggles At Some Point

Whether you’re taking an online course or attending traditional classes, there will always be times when the material is tough to grasp or the workload seems impossible. Just know that you’re not alone in feeling this way!

If you’re struggling, reach out to your school’s Student Support Team for help. They’ll be more than happy to offer their assistance and help you get through any tough patches.

Another thing we recommend is turning to friends and family for their support and words of encouragement. When you feel like giving up, they’ll be there to remind you why you started taking the course in the first place… And how much of a rock star you are!

2. Struggling Does NOT Equal Failing

In fact, it’s often when we struggle the most that we learn the most! So, instead of beating yourself up over a rough patch, try to see it as an opportunity for growth.

And if you do happen to stumble along the way, don’t worry! There’s always room for improvement – and we guarantee that you’ll get there eventually. Just keep pushing forward and don’t give up on yourself!

Remember: even the most successful people have had their fair share of struggles. They just didn’t let those struggles stop them from reaching their goals!

3. You Can Do This!

We’ll say it again for the people in the back: YOU. CAN. DO. THIS! We know it’s tough, but we also know that you’re tougher. So, allow yourself to feel any negative emotions as they come… But then brush yourself off and keep moving forward.

You’ve got this, and we believe in you!

Shot of beautiful lovely dog kissing her smiling owner while she working with laptop in the kitchen at home. Stay motivated article.

How Do You Stay Motivated Working Online?: Final Thoughts

We hope that these tips have helped you better understand how to stay motivated in an online course! Just remember to take things one step at a time, celebrate your accomplishments (no matter how small!), and most importantly – don’t give up on yourself.

If you found this article helpful, be sure to share it with your friends and family! And if you have any questions or would like to share your own tips for staying motivated, feel free to leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading – and good luck in your online course! 💕

Enroll in an online course with QC Pet Studies today and earn your internally-recognized certification at YOUR preferred pace!

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