Unfortunately, when we talk about studying, it is assumed that the student will be child-free, with little to no responsibilities and a lot of time.
However, there are more than just a few learners who have children, full-time jobs, and need to study.
You might be studying to further your career or to make a significant change – or you might be considering online courses – no matter your circumstances; here are a few practical tips that can help you manage.
Photo by RAMSHA ASAD on Unsplash
Space
To be realistic we don’t all have offices in our home, but it might be possible for you to make some space somewhere. We are at our best in terms of productivity and the absorption of information when we have a designated study space.
Keep the space that you have decided to study clean and mess-free; this will help you switch into study mode every time you are near it.
How do you learn?
Not everyone learns the same way or at the same speed. Some techniques and theories sink in for others much faster.
It is essential that you can accept how you learn and what works before for you – and then leverage it.
With a full schedule, you will likely be snatching time in the early hours of the morning or late at night. Studies tend to show that early rising and tackling work has a better impact than staying up later.
The prospect of getting out of bed at 4 am doesn’t sound attractive if you have worked at 9 am – but consider how many hours of studying you could fit in before the children get up?
Goal setting
With the best of intentions, many of us let ourselves down when it comes to our goal setting. We will ensure we have a single overarching goal like ‘completing the degree’ – but what about everything in between?
You can start by trying smaller goals:
- Study for 1 hour a day
- Write 300 words on your paper per day
These smaller goals will add up to some pretty big differences very quickly. It isn’t feasible to leave everything to the last minute when you have so many other things that you need to take care of.
Celebrate each small win, too, every passed project, every passing grade. Keep yourself motivated on the days where you feel like you can see the end.
Help
It can be one of the most challenging things to ask for help. You assume that you should manage the 9-5 work, the studying, and everything else you need to do. But if you have a support network around you, then use it.
Put any ego and pride aside – focus on the goal at the end. If there are tutoring, mentors, offers of childcare help – accept anything that will make your days easier.
If you currently feel like you are in a rut and a dead-end job, finding ways to break out of that can be the light at the end of the tunnel.
There are more ways than just studying to get you there too. Check out this post: What to do when you’re stuck in a dead-end job | Mike McRitchie.
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