Time management is a common problem for many online students. You’re not on a college campus with thousands of other students who are also making time to study, so it can be hard to stay motivated. Falling behind, however, can cause you to fail courses, which, in turn, wastes your time and money. Here are seven important time management tips for online students:

Set Aside Specific Hours for Schoolwork

Typical college students have classes during set times every day. As an online student, you aren’t restricted by such a rigid schedule, which can be both a good and bad thing. On one hand, this gives you the flexibility to go to school even with a job or as a parent, but unless you push yourself, it can be tempting to skip schoolwork and relax.

One way to stop yourself from procrastinating is to set aside specific hours for schoolwork every single day. You should consider this time that is somewhat inflexible–if you get done early, you can go out with your friends, but don’t schedule a night on the town for the time you typically schedule to work.

Follow a Daily To-Do List

Scheduling time for your schoolwork is just a start when you’re trying to organize your time. It’s also a good idea to have a clear to-do list, or multiple to-do lists, depending on your class schedule. You can keep the list directly on a file on your computer or hand-write it and hang it on the wall to help keep you motivated. As you complete tasks, cross them off the list. The sense of accomplishment can be overwhelmingly relieving.

Avoid Social Networking during “College” Hours

When you set a schedule for school, make sure that this is actually college time, not computer time. Ban yourself from social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace when you’re supposed to be working. If you intend to spend a long time working online, you can reward yourself with little breaks every few hours, but otherwise stick to only using the computer for activities related to your classes.

Study Small Amounts Every Week Rather than Cramming

This tip isn’t just for online students–it applies to all college students. As soon as you start learning about the material covered in the course, begin to study efficiently for the mid-term and final. Many courses also have other tests and pop quizzes, so by doing a small amount of studying every day, you’re preparing yourself for whatever your professor throws your way. Even just 15 minutes every night before you go to sleep can help you retain material. Come finals week, you’ll have a very good base of knowledge before you ever crack open a book to prepare for the exam.

Ask for Help as Soon as you Need It

Just like typical college professors, online college professors are more than happy to help students who feel confused or are struggling with their schoolwork. Most professors, however, won’t go out of their way to ask you if you need help. Don’t be afraid to speak up–and do so as soon as you start feeling unsure about a concept or lesson. If you wait until the end of the semester, you won’t be prepared for tests and the confusion will only snowball until it’s unmanageable. On the other hand, if you get help right away, you’ll spend less time on homework, papers, and studying throughout the entire semester.

Set Your Own Deadlines

Whenever you are assigned a homework assignment or paper for your online class, schedule a deadline. With many online courses, you aren’t required to actually turn in work until the end of the semester, but if you don’t set deadlines for yourself, you’ll suddenly find that you have 3 papers, 20 pages of problems, and a final exam all due in the space of two days.

When setting a deadline, don’t schedule it for the day the assignment is really due to your professor; instead, give yourself a few days of leeway in case you run into problems or otherwise need extra time to work. Try to stagger your personal due dates throughout the semester so you aren’t overwhelmed with work at any one time.

Invest in a Laptop

Lastly, when you’re taking an online class, one of the best ways to manage your time is to invest in a laptop. You don’t need a laptop to take courses online, but having one means that you can make good use of time that would typically be lost, such as time during your morning commute on the train or waiting at the doctor’s office (just make sure that your connection is secure). Fit in your classes during times that would otherwise be wasted, and you’ll have much more free time during the rest of your day.

Need more time management tips? Check out these great tips from Dartmouth.