In today’s digital age, we have access to countless online courses for learning new skills or enhancing existing ones. Many of us discover an interesting course and begin with great enthusiasm, but within days or weeks, our motivation wanes, distractions take over, or we switch to another course.

This pattern affects many learners, and it isn’t necessarily your shortcoming. Sometimes the course design is flawed, other times it’s our approach that needs adjustment. As a frontend developer who has completed numerous courses (which are visible on my LinkedIn profile), I’ve developed an effective method through extensive experimentation that enables me to maintain focus and complete my learning goals.

Let me outline this approach:

1. Evaluate Course Duration

I consider this the crucial element. My preference is for compact courses that I can finish within 1-3 weeks. Lengthy courses often become daunting and draining.

Keep in mind:

You must allocate additional time for:

• Creating study notes

• Understanding complex concepts

• Completing assignments and projects

A 4-hour video course typically requires 10-20 hours of dedicated effort. Consider a 50-hour course – it could stretch across several months! Therefore, prioritise shorter courses. They provide quick achievements and sustain motivation.

2. Focus on Single Courses

Juggling multiple courses simultaneously often results in exhaustion and incomplete learning.
Instead:

• Select one course

• Dedicate your attention fully

• Celebrate your completion!

This achievement will strengthen your confidence and maintain momentum.

3. Establish Daily Learning Habits

Designate a specific daily time slot for course work. For instance:
📅 “I’ll study for one hour daily at 7 PM.”

If time-constrained, even 15-30 minutes per day suffices. Consistency matters most.

Missing one day? That’s acceptable. Just avoid skipping two consecutive days. Resume and persist!

Final Thoughts

Course completion challenges are universal. However, implementing proper strategies and routines significantly eases the journey. I trust these suggestions will benefit you as they’ve helped me.

If you’ve discovered other effective techniques, please share them in the comments section. I’m keen to learn from your experiences!

Author: Trevor Davies