When you’re an adult going back to school, there are plenty of challenges. How do you manage work, family, and school responsibilities all at the same time? How do you find time for studying, homework and projects? How do you balance your personal life with all the demands of being a student again? You may be ready to tackle these challenges head-on… but maybe not yet. Perhaps you need a little motivation first! Check out these tips on boosting productivity when returning to school as an adult.
Create a study schedule
Whether you’re taking a semester-long course or a short certification program, setting realistic expectations for what you want to get out of your studies is essential. If you’re relocating, you need to be prepared and organized by finding suitable accommodation that can help you reduce inefficiencies in your day and finding storage to help you store items if required. At the same time, you want to ensure you don’t set yourself up for failure. One way to do this is by creating a study schedule. You can use a calendar or online calendar to map out each week and each day, or you can use software designed for students, like DASH or StudyBlue.
Define your priorities
What are your primary responsibilities as a student? Taking care of yourself, your family, and your job comes first. You also want to make sure you have time for friends, family, and any other extracurricular activities that are important to you. It’s essential to be realistic about how much you can do while in school. You don’t have to be perfect. You have to be careful. You don’t want to let your other priorities fall through the cracks, but you also don’t want to over-commit and rush through your schoolwork to get everything done. Find a balance that works for you.
Take care of yourself.
When juggling school and a full-time job, you may feel guilty for taking time for yourself. But you need it. Taking care of yourself will help you maintain your energy levels, improve your health and make you a better parent or employee. Get enough sleep. Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Eat well. Skip the junk food and soda and fill up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Stay hydrated. Take time for yourself. Schedule time for self-care, like yoga, meditation, or a movie. At the same time, you want to ensure you don’t take on too much. When over-extended, you won’t be able to do your best work. You might make mistakes or even suffer burnout.
Find the tools that work for you.
You might be tempted to rely on your old study habits from high school, but sometimes adult students need different tools. What worked for you in high school may not work for you today. We live in an age of technology, and you have various study tools at your disposal. You can download audio and e-books or access articles and lesson plans online. You can also find online tutoring and mentoring resources or join online discussion boards and forums for extra help when you get stuck. There are also a variety of apps designed for students, like Quizlet, that can help you study, memorize, and more.
Stay motivated to stay productive.
Once you’ve gotten yourself situated, it’s essential to keep yourself motivated. Keep track of your progress, celebrate your wins, and set goals for yourself. Keep a schedule and follow your study plan. Keep up with your classes, exams, and projects. Get plenty of rest, eat well, and take time to relax. Keep yourself accountable. Check in with friends and family to let them know how you’re doing.
When going back to school as an adult, keeping your life balanced is essential. You can do it, and you can do it well. All you need are a few tips and tricks to boost your productivity and make your study life a little easier.
