Plan in days off
How we all enjoy holidays? Taking a day off here and there rejuvenates us, and gives us the time to do anything we please with no obligations hanging over our heads. Everyone loves days off, but as technology forces society to work faster and longer, and as life in general gets harder, we tend to forfeit days off in favor of working. We try to make up for lost time from the other days. And our personal lives suffer. We have no downtime, and we are constantly trying to keep up with the treadmill. The truth is everyone needs time off, and when scheduling online courses, it is crucial to plan in days off so that you do not become exhausted.
Fatigue comes in two ways... mental and physical. Both types are detrimental to our lives. Humans need proper sleep and rest, and they also need to free themselves from mind clutter. The way to do this is with days off that are actually fun or at least peaceful. It is not a bad thing once in while to use days off to catch up, but by doing this on regular basis, it is no longer a one-time event, but rather a routine. It means that you are obligated seven days a week which is not a good thing.
Another reason to plan in days off is for activities that absolutely cannot be done during your school schedule. For example, you might need to make an appointment with the doctor or dentist, and it is more convenient on your day off so that you do not lose focus on a school day. And you might have to do the shopping and laundry on your day off. The key is to do something other than school work, but don't overdo it. Plan a few things so that you can still come back to classes rested and rejuvenated.
Certainly, one of the biggest problems with not penciling in days off on our calendars is we rely on those days. For example, let's say we have to hand in an essay in ten days. It would be better to say we only have six days to complete the project leaving the remaining days as backup if something drastic happens. The extra days are used as buffers and not as part of the regular schedule. Having time to fall back on is a good thing in this age of computer crashes, flash disk failures, and internet connection downtime.
As you can see, it is vital for your mental and physical well-being, and ultimately your educational success, to plan in days off.