How to Minimise Distractions During Your Online International Relations Course

Avoid distractions to stay focused during your international relations studies

The convenience of online learning has opened up new possibilities for busy professionals and ambitious students to pursue their goals of obtaining postgraduate qualifications. With the ability to do your work from anywhere, at your own pace, it becomes possible to make your studies fit in with whatever else your life demands of you.

That being said, there are particular challenges that come with the opportunity of distance learning. One of the most daunting – especially for those who do coursework from home or the workplace – is the constant presence of distractions.

Fortunately, there are many simple strategies that you can employ to minimise the impact of distractions and keep you moving toward academic and career success. Read on to learn about a few of them.

Make a To-Do and Not-to-Do List For International Relations Course Work

Prioritisation is one of the most important steps for independent work, especially when it comes to remote coursework. Making a to-do list can help you establish which tasks are the most important, and ensure that you do not miss any essentials. Organising your studies according to both importance – how much it matters that you complete a task – and urgency – how soon the task needs to be completed – will result in a well-prioritised list.

 To-do and not-to-do lists can help you prioritise effectively and avoid distractions

However, it is also important for very busy individuals to make a not-to-do list. This is where you note the tasks that are most likely to distract you from your most important and urgent work. For example, you may note that you are not to answer work emails or do chores until you have completed your to-do list. This approach will help you stay focused and avoid being taken off course by less pressing tasks.

Manage Your Devices During International Relations Distance Learning

A very common source of distraction and procrastination for many international relations distance learning students is electronic devices. As an online student, you will of course need to use a computer with internet access. However, this does not mean there is nothing you can do to focus your experience.

When you are doing coursework, turn off your smartphone and store it out of reach. This will reduce the temptation to browse social media during study hours, and will prevent messages from distracting you from reading and writing.

Additionally, you might consider one of the many browser extensions that set time limits for the use of certain websites. For instance, the StayFocused browser extension lets you customise which sites you will have access to and for how long. With tools like this, you will need to exercise less willpower to avoid all the possible distractions the internet has to offer.

 Your phone can knock your studies off track – put it out of reach while doing coursework

Tell Important People in Your Life That Your International Relation Course is a Priority

Finally, it is important to remember that achieving success on your online international relations courses does not have to be a solitary activity. For students with pressing family commitments or social lives, the most important people in your life may also be significant sources of distraction.

Communicating to these individuals the importance of your studies and your need to have distraction-free periods to complete your coursework will make it easier for them to avoid unintentionally disrupting your work.

They may even help you to avoid distractions. For example, a close friend may offer childcare support. By communicating your needs and priorities, you can maximise your chances of a focused postgraduate study experience.

Are you interested in optimising your approach to online postgraduate study?

Contact QMUL Online to learn more about how students succeed on our Postgraduate Certificate in International Relations.