Your mind is a muscle, and just as you need to build strength in your legs to be a runner, you need to use your mind regularly to improve your ability to learn and retain new information.

If you haven’t studied for a long time and you’re considering enrolling in an online course, you may worry that you won’t be able to focus on or remember new content to pass assessments.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

Many students worry that they will have trouble passing assessments, but because there are no deadlines in an online study program with Australian Online Courses, you can take your time and take your tests when you feel ready.

However, if you’d like to improve your focus fitness before you enrol in an online course, the following mind-gym and study techniques will help.

 

1. Memory Enhancing Activities

Puzzles

If you want to enhance your cognitive skill, give puzzles like Sudoku and crosswords a go to challenge your logic and memory. If you commit just ten minutes a day to these mind-gym activities, you’ll build your memory muscle and be better prepared for online study.

Reading

If you love to read this one’s an easy one to incorporate into your day. If you’re not fond of novels, find something you are interested in and read about it. It doesn’t matter what you read as long as you commit to reading something. Why? Because reading books, magazines or news content uses language, cognition and comprehension skills which strengthens memory, which is essential if you’re planning to embark on an online study program.

Board Games

Board games are a great way to connect with your friend and family, but it’s also an excellent way to sharpen your cognitive abilities!  All boards games are helpful, but Scrabble, Monopoly and Chess are particularly useful as games of skill.

Dancing

If you keep fit, you help your mind too! Why not sign up for a dancing class? According to research, it’s the only physical activity associated with lower risk of dementia. So, whether you’re into hip-hop or ballroom dancing, get those dancing shoes on for better physical and mental health benefits.

Play an Instrument

If you’ve always wanted to play the piano, it’s never too late to learn. Learning to play an instrument enhances your memory and language skills. So, whether you can or play an instrument, or you want to learn, start making music to improve your memory and language skills for a better chance at passing your online study program with flying colours.

Cooking

Do you love to cook? If so, do more of it to improve your memory and focus for online study. When you cook or bake you activate all five senses which light up multiple sections of the brain to keep the mind muscles healthy.

Craft

Artistic? If you have a creative streak in the arts, make sure you make time for it. Craft and creative activities like knitting and painting give your mind a workout and can help enhance your memory and focus fitness for an online study program.

 

 

2. Set Study Goals

 

Setting study goals is essential to improve your focus for online study. The goal doesn’t need to be difficult, in fact, it’s critical to set SMART goals. They should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

 

Even if you set aside an hour a day to focus on study, you will feel more focused knowing you’ll be rewarded with a break at the end of this study block.

 

3. Create a Study Ritual

A study ritual puts your mind in study mode and can be helpful in focusing your mind on retaining new and important information during online study. It could be as simple as lighting a candle when you sit down to study– studies show that rosemary is particularly beneficial when it comes to memory.

 

4. Block Distractions

If you’re studying with your smartphone within reaching distance, this could be detrimental to your productively in online study. Because online study requires you to be self-motivated, it’s important that you block distractions like Facebook and other social media or email apps to give 100 per cent attention. So, if you can’t put your phone in another room at least make use of apps that help you block distraction and stay focussed when it’s important.

 

5. Schedule Downtime

 

Scheduling downtime is just as necessary as fitting in study time to avoid burnout. Make sure you break study blocks down into hour-long shifts and then reward yourself with a walk or a smoothie or meditation to refocus and refresh your mind. It’s also important to take days off during the week to engage in your hobbies or catch up with friends and family.

 

6. Make Time for Exercise

 

It can be challenging to fit it all in, but exercise should be a non-negotiable when it comes to maintaining a healthy body to support a healthy mind. You can start with a 20-minute walk and build up to full workouts at least three days per week.

 

7. Declutter Your Study

If you’re working in a cluttered and untidy work environment how can you expect your brain to focus for online study? Declutter your work area to declutter your mind. You’ll feel more zen and less zany it the long run – trust us!

 

Australian Online Courses

We’ll help you maintain your focus to graduate faster. When you choose Australian Online Courses as your online education provider, you will receive quality content, reasonable fees and unsurpassed student support.

Browse hundreds of industry-approved, flexible online courses covering a variety of industries today. Simply visit us online or contact one of our friendly Learning Consultants on 1300 762 221.