Reading Time: ~6 Mins | Written By: Denae Swadden
As the Student Success Specialist here at Jelly Academy, I get to work closely with students from the moment they enroll to the moment they graduate. Somewhat surprisingly, the students who thrive aren't necessarily the ones with the most free time or the fewest challenges.
So, what sets them apart? Here are three things I've noticed, along with some practical tips you can try for yourself.
1. They Treat Studying Like a Scheduled Commitment
How many times have you told yourself, "I'll do that when I have time," and then not had time – like ever? If you work full-time, have a family to care for, or are simply juggling a laundry list of responsibilities, you know the struggle. Somehow, the to-do list always seems longer than the hours in a day.
Students who thrive in online courses don't leave studying up to chance. Instead, they treat it like any other commitment by setting aside dedicated time in their calendars. This is particularly important for those in self-paced courses, which require an added level of self-discipline.
First, they figure out how much time the course requires each week (you can usually find this in the course syllabus). Then, they block that time off. For some people, that's a little bit every day. For others, it's one longer session each week. There's no one-size-fits-all approach. The key is finding a routine that works for your schedule (and your brain!) so you can stick with it.
Most importantly, once it's scheduled, they protect it. They find a quiet place to study, close the extra tabs, and silence their phones. After all, a two-hour study block doesn't mean much if half of it disappears into the doomscroll trap.
Your action items:
Put study blocks in your calendar like appointments. Pick the same day(s) and time(s) each week so it becomes automatic.
Find a quiet study space, whether that's at home, a local library, or your favourite coffee shop.
During your study time, put your phone away and close any unnecessary tabs.
Bonus tip: Have extra time in your study block? Work ahead to create a cushion for the weeks when life gets in the way.
2. They Ask for Help Early
Here's the thing about roadblocks: they're rarely the problem – the waiting is. It's surprising how quickly a small hiccup can turn into a big one when you don't address it early.
Rather than struggling in silence, successful students ask for help as soon as they get stuck. To them, asking for help is normal – not a failure, not a bother. Whether they're struggling with a concept, confused about an assignment, or having trouble accessing the learning platform, they send me a quick email or Slack message so we can work through it together.
It's easy to get discouraged when you've set aside time to study and run into an annoying hurdle. But the sooner you reach out, the sooner you can get back on track.
Your action items:
Find out where to go for help before you need it, so there's no hunting mid-frustration.
Reach out as soon as something blocks your progress. Don't wait until a small issue becomes a big one.
When you reach out, keep your message short and specific. Include what you're trying to do, what's going wrong, and what you've already tried. For example: "Hi [name], I'm having trouble finding the account setup link for [course]. I've checked my spam and junk folders. Could you please resend it?"
3. They Stay Connected to Their Why
Week one is easy. You're excited and eager. Then suddenly, it's week six. The novelty has worn off, but the coursework hasn't. When you're juggling coursework with everything else life throws at you, motivation alone won't always be enough to keep you going.
One thing that helps successful students push through those tougher weeks is staying connected to their "why," the deeper reason they enrolled in the course in the first place. You find it by asking "why?" a few times in a row. For example:
Why am I taking this course? To grow my side business.
Why does that matter? Because I want more income from work I enjoy.
Why does that matter? Because I'd like to leave my day job and do this full-time.
That last answer is the real "why," and it's what keeps a student going on days when they'd rather do just about anything other than coursework. Maybe you're upskilling to earn a raise that would give you more financial breathing room. Or maybe you're hoping to leave a career that no longer makes you happy and move into something you genuinely enjoy. Whatever your reason, make sure it's something that matters to you.
Once you've figured out your "why," the key is remembering it when things get tough. After all, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when you're caught up in deadlines and to-do lists.
Your action items:
Ask yourself why you enrolled (or want to enroll), then keep asking "why does that matter?" until you reach something meaningful.
Write your "why" in a sentence or two and put it somewhere visible (like your study space) so you can revisit it on the tough days.
The truth is, thriving in an online course doesn't mean having unlimited free time, never running into challenges, or feeling motivated 24/7. It's about finding ways to make learning fit into your life, asking for support when you need it, and remembering why you started in the first place.
And if you're not doing all three of these things yet? That's okay! You don't have to change everything overnight. Start with one, see what works for you, and build from there. Small changes can make a big difference over time.