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You know the story: you do some homework on your computer, and before you know it, you’re engrossed in emails, Facebook, and other items. This can become quite the problem for students, and is one nasty habit to break. Yet it is vital to do so, sooner rather than later.

Distractions like this can undermine any time spent on homework and other studies. Whether you’re at a traditional university or in online education, you might experience this, especially with a large portion of work/research done on the computer. Of course, distractions come in many other forms, such as television, people, and what goes on inside.

Clearly define your study time to set things straight. If it works for your schedule, try scheduling a block of time each day to tackle homework and get caught up with your readings. Or, alternatively, take a dynamic approach on a day-by-day basis.

Do this in other areas as well. For instance, if you are going to work on a paper for a couple of hours, go somewhere with less distractions. Take stock of what works for you, such as going to the library, listening to music that doesn’t distract you, and other strategies. Take occasional breaks as well.

Relatively speaking, you need to do your homework and study. Make a conscious effort to overcome the barriers to your productivity. After all, you’ll be able to enjoy more time when you have finished this work. Try a few things out to see what works best.