Taking that leap back to full- or part-time education as an
adult can be both an exhilarating and terrifying journey. Many important
decisions need to be considered before taking that leap, such as…
- How am I going to pay for my studies?
- Do I have enough money to support my dependents and myself whilst I am studying?
- Will this studying increase my ability to earn once completed, or will I be saddled with the debt that I will struggle to pay off?
- or even starting at the most basic question of questions “what should I study?”
By taking your time to answer all your questions
thoroughly, you can hopefully reach a decision which is not based on
emotion, but a well thought out plan that will help lead you into a new
and more positive future. Congratulations!
By utilizing our Top-10 tips to survive this new adventure,
hopefully you can avoid any potential pit-falls by putting the right
strategies in place ahead of time.
1. Create support systems
One of the most important aspects of successful study is
having a support system in place from the very beginning. Whether it be
your spouse, your parents, your children, or even your work colleagues,
they need to be made to feel a part of your decision to return to study.
By taking the time to explain your reasons why, and possibly even how
it would benefit them in the long-term, having them on your side will
most definitely be to your benefit.
2. Check your finances
Returning to study can be a tremendously expensive exercise,
regardless of whether you plan to study full- or part-time. Not only is
it the cost of the course, you need to factor in additional expenses
such as stationery, text books, examination fees, additional transport
costs (if required), as well as whether your normal income stream will
be affected by your studying. Make sure you do your sums ahead of time;
so no unexpected surprises can arise that will derail your plans.
3. Organize, organize and organize
Organize as much as possible ahead of time, and make sure
you keep any organizational systems up to date. Technology can be your
friend, utilize it fully. Create and share a Google Calendar with your
support system, so that they are aware of upcoming exams and
assignments. If your college has an online portal for submitting
assignments online as opposed to in person – use it. Proper organization
can really be the key to success or failure, and in a world bursting
with new and free organizational apps and programs; there are no
excuses!
4. Track your achievements
Before you start studying, create a list of your short- and
long-term goals that you hope to achieve. Add and revise the list
regularly as you progress. When you achieve one of your goals, reward
yourself! It might even be as simple as creating a ‘Grown-up’s Star
Chart’ – for every 10 stars you treat yourself to something small! By
creating a visual representation of your progress, you will be a lot
more aware of just how far you have travelled down the path to
educational success.
5. Accept that struggling is inevitable
It is almost a guarantee that there will be periods when you
are struggling and feel simply unable to manage. After all, if it
weren’t hard, it wouldn’t be worthwhile. The key to success is not to
wait until the problem escalates, rather to get assistance as soon as
you are aware there is a problem. Pride needs to take a back seat to
success, so chat to your instructors, or ask fellow students for help.
Do what ever is necessary to overcome the problem before it becomes
unmanageable.
6. Time management
Make a date to study – whether you need to do it once a day,
or once a week, set aside time in your diary as you would any meeting.
As you would respect the time others set aside to meet with you, you owe
it to yourself to show the same respect to you and your studies. Add it
to your Google Calendar, so others know this time is sacred.
7. Create the right study environment
As with many of us professional procrastinators, we are only
looking for the next excuse to justify our inability to study and get
work done. Ideally you need to create a distraction-free study
environment, where you can study in peace. Even if it’s not possible to
set aside an entire room, ensure that you have an area that is as far
away as possible from the central hub of the house. Keep TVs off, cell
phones and tablets in another room, and the door closed if possible.
8. Use time wisely
If you are lucky enough to be ahead of schedule and with no
imminent deadlines by all means reward yourself with some time off.
However, your best plan would be for you to use this opportunity to get
ahead of schedule, to give yourself a head start on upcoming assignments
and studying.
9. Be honest
Be honest with friends, family and colleagues with what you
can and can’t do. Don’t try and be the superhero that juggles
everything, as something is bound to get dropped. Rather, admit that
your plate is full - that studying is a priority right now, and that you
are unable to manage with anything additional. Those who truly care
about you will not view this is a sign of weakness, rather they will
respect you for what you are trying to achieve.
10. Look after yourself
Eat healthily, refrain from drinking too much alcohol, if
possible exercise regularly, and most importantly, aim to get a good
night sleep every night. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind, and it
is your responsibility to take care of both. Try not to view time spent
looking after yourself as time wasted, rather view it as an investment
in your future.
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