I used to think taking classes online was easier than sitting in a physical classroom with an actual tutor. The idea just made sense in my head as I imagined it as comfort, flexibility and no pressure. I mean you could learn at your own pace, pause when you want, and rewind when you miss something. It literally sounds like the perfect setup.
But I was wrong. Oh, very wrong. Because what I didn’t consider is that online learning, especially when it’s self-paced, requires a level of discipline I hadn’t fully prepared myself for. It’s even worse when you’re not using a laptop, but your phone. The same device that holds your distractions, your social media, your messages, your entire world of ‘let me just check this quickly.’
So, I recently signed up for two online courses, Business Management and Advertising, and another on Content Writing and Social Media Strategy. At the end of it, I’ll get certificates I can proudly add to my CV. So yes, this matters to me.
I started with the business course, feeling all motivated and ready until I realized I wasn’t considering that somehow, my mind just refuses to stay in one place. I’d be watching a lesson, trying to focus, and suddenly I’m thinking about something else. Or reaching for another app, convincing myself I deserve just a short break that always turns into a long one. Then I come back hours later, disconnected and slightly annoyed at myself.
screenshot from my mailbox
It’s frustrating ngl. The class itself isn’t bad, it’s just that my attention isn’t where it needs to be. I’ve even caught myself calling it boring, which I know isn’t entirely fair. It is definitely not the course, it’s me. I’m just not used to sitting still long enough, all by myself, to learn something that doesn’t immediately entertain me. This realization has humbled me though because this is something I actually want.
It is a skill I want to have as it can shape my future, open doors for me, and help me grow into the kind of professional I imagine myself becoming. So I really can’t afford to take it lightly.
I’ve also come to understand that online learning isn’t easy. It takes responsibility. To choose, over and over again, to stay focused even when your mind wants to wander, staying when it gets boring, pushing through when it feels slow and to build discipline, even when no one is watching.
Anyway, I’m still figuring it out and trying to do better. But at least now, I know what I’m up against.
