Time management is an important skill for everyone in life, not just students.
Good time management techniques help increase productivity and improve work-life balance. Being able to effectively manage your time means getting your schoolwork done in 4 hours instead of 8 and having more time to do the things you want to do outside of school.
In this article, we’ll explain why time management is especially important for online students and break down 6 great time management techniques.
Why are good time management techniques important for online students?
In traditional classrooms, the school day is already structured. There are set class times. Students have built-in breaks and teachers provide regular reminders. Things are different in an online learning environment. Students have more control over how and why they complete their work. More flexibility is great, but without structure, it can be easy to fall behind.
Strong online student time management helps:
- Meet deadlines without last-minute stress
- Balance school with other responsibilities (sports, family time, part-time jobs)
- Create healthy study habits and routines
- Build confidence and independence
And the benefits go beyond just academics. Students with strong time management skills report lower levels of stress and better overall well-being.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at our 6 time management techniques online students can start using right away.
1. Plan Your Day, Week, and Month
One of the best ways to stay on top of assignments is to zoom out before you zoom in. Start by planning the month: what assignments or tests are coming up? What’s due, and when? Then take it week by week and break things down into more manageable task lists for each day.
Planning projects and schoolwork this way, helps you see the big picture. Prioritizing tasks in online learning keeps your day-to-day manageable. It avoids any surprises or late nights cramming to finish assignments – no more “oh no, it’s due tomorrow” moments!
Planning ahead is easy. You can use a paper planner, a digital calendar like Google Calendar, or a simple to-do list app, like Todoist or Trello – both offer free versions for personal use.
Students who plan ahead are more likely to avoid procrastination and last-minute stress. Parents and learning coaches can help by sitting down each week to review upcoming deadlines and create a simple study schedule together.
2. Schedule Distraction-Free Moments
These days, distractions are everywhere: your phone, TV, TikTok notifications, and the list goes on.
They’re constantly pulling your attention in different directions and stealing your focus. When distractions are constantly fighting for your attention, even the most motivated student can lose track of time.
Every time you’re distracted and lose focus, you lose a lot of time. According to researcher Gloria Mark from the University of California, Irvine, it can take up to 25 minutes to regain focus after being distracted. That means one quick check of your phone or Instagram feed can turn a 30-minute assignment into an hour-long task.
Setting up time blocking for study sessions is easy to do, try:
- Turning off phone notifications or using Focus mode.
- Using browser extensions like StayFocusd or Cold Turkey;
- Let your family know it’s “focus time”.
You may even want to consider leaving your phone in another room. Studies have shown that just having your phone in the room with you can steal your focus. It’s an easy way to create a good study environment.
3. Do One Thing at a Time
Multitasking is a myth.
You may think that you can perform multiple tasks at the same time, but what you’re really doing is just quickly switching between tasks. That constant switching just ends up costing you time – up to 40% of your productivity.
So, instead of trying to multitask, a better time management technique is to focus on one task at a time.
4. Use the Pomodoro Technique
A great way to focus on one task at a time is to use the Pomodoro technique. It helps break study time into smaller chunks that feel more manageable. Here’s how it works:
- Set a timer for 25 minutes (or whatever length of time works best for you) and focus on just one task;
- When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break;
- Repeat this process four times and then take a longer 15-30 minute break.
One of the biggest Pomodoro technique benefits is that it makes big assignments feel smaller. Instead of staring down two hours of math, you can say, “I’ll just do one Pomodoro.” That small mindset shift builds momentum.
The built-in breaks are also very beneficial. Research has shown that regular breaks can improve concentration and reduce mental fatigue so this is definitely a great technique for online learners.
5. Follow a Routine
Just because you don’t have to catch a bus or attend classes at set times doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a routine.
A healthy student routine might include:
- Waking up and going to bed at the same time every day;
- Starting schoolwork after breakfast;
- Breaking up subjects by morning and afternoon;
- Ending the school day with a walk, activity, or creative break.
A daily routine helps build momentum and creates consistency. It also reduces decision fatigue since you don’t have to think so hard about when to do your work.
Related: A Typical Day for a Student Attending Virtual School
6. Group Similar Tasks
Also called task batching, this time management technique is similar to focusing on one task at a time. The idea is to keep your brain in the zone by working on similar tasks back to back.
For example:
- Do all your math assignments during one study block.
- Dedicate one morning to writing-based tasks.
- Batch your reading assignments for one afternoon.
When you’re not constantly switching gears, you save time and mental energy.
Try combining this with the Pomodoro technique for even better results, like a full Pomodoro session just for science or just for writing.
Use Time Management Tools
Throughout this article, we’ve mentioned a few different tools you can use to help you stay organized and manage your time. Using time management tools for learners isn’t so much of a technique itself but rather a great way to help you put time management techniques into action.
There are plenty of free tools out there that can meet your needs, whether you need a tool to help you plan your week or a simple Pomodoro timer.
Some free tools worth trying include:
- Google Calendar for setting reminders and deadlines
- Trello or Notion for tracking tasks
- Focus Keeper or Pomofocus for using the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of work, 5-minute break)
- Forest app for staying off your phone and growing a virtual tree while you study
Try a few and see what works best for you!
Related: Best AI Tools for Online Learning & Increasing Productivity
Time Management Techniques Build On Each Other
The techniques we’ve talked about here are best used in conjunction with each other. Planning your day, week, and month, can help you better group similar tasks for more effective Pomodoro sessions, while following a consistent routine makes it easier to schedule distraction-free moments and focus.
You’ll need to play around with the different techniques to see which ones work best for you and what’s the best way to implement them. Remember, small changes add up. Choose one or two strategies from this list to try this week, and build from there.
If you’re looking for other ways to be more productive, make sure to check out our list of most effective study tips for k-12 virtual students.
