Managing online classes can be hard. It’s not like traditional campus-based classes require students to have a strong ability to create and stick to a schedule. Between class times, club meetings, homework, and jobs or work-study, it never feels like there’s room for error in scheduling day-to-day life.

This becomes amplified for students taking online classes. While you may not need to account for physical classroom time, there is usually significantly more reading and homework to make up for the lost in-person experience. This, in tandem with the fact that many online students are balancing jobs and families, can make online classes challenging to manage. Here are some tips that can help you achieve managing online classes on a busy schedule:

Make a to-do list
It can be overwhelming to think about all of the things you need to accomplish. Creating a daily (or even a weekly) to-do list gives you a chance to see what needs to be done and when it’s due.
Having a physical list that you can refer back to can help prevent you from overthinking or overcomplicating what you need to accomplish.
It also means that you don’t have to stress about forgetting to do something because you’ll always have that list to refer back to.
Prioritize tasks
Once you have your to-do list, don’t be afraid to rearrange items based on priority. Put your most urgent and important tasks at the top (maybe your boss needs you to have a report in by Monday morning and it’s already Sunday).
As you go down the list, your tasks will be less urgent and may hold off until later.
Track how you use your time
When you first start online classes, it can feel like time is slipping through your fingers. It may be helpful to take a week or two to check in with how you’re using your time.
Consider how many hours you spend on social media each day, how much sleep you get each night, and how much time you spend on work-related tasks. Knowing how you use your time is an essential step towards being able to use it efficiently.
Create a daily schedule for managing online classes
Knowing how you’re currently using your time is helpful, but not always necessary for planning out your day. The key to creating a schedule is to stick to it, even when that new season of your favorite TV show drops.
Allow yourself to take breaks
You are not a machine. Managing online classes means stepping away from work to do something you enjoy.
Just remember that these are breaks; as tempting as it is to watch yet another cute dog video, you will need to return to work.
Procrastinate productively
Maybe you have an assignment due soon, but you don’t want to work on it, that’s fine. Find another project that needs to be done, and do that one instead.
Dedicate your energy to productive tasks rather than distractions, like Facebook or TikTok. At first, this may feel exhausting, but the more you engage yourself in tasks, the easier it will be.
Find a quiet space
If you have kids, this quiet space may be the floor of a coat closet after playing hide-and-seek for the 12th time today.
While online classes grant you the freedom to be home with your family while taking classes, it can be beneficial to step away from them to do your homework.
This may involve having conversations with members of your household about giving you uninterrupted time throughout the day.
Reach out to your support system
You never know the kind of help your friends and family may be able to provide, even if it’s just a person to talk with as a means of relieving stress.
Your support system may help you figure out how to juggle the various elements of your life, and maybe find things you don’t need to focus on.