If
you’re fortunate enough to have a job and are receiving a monthly or weekly
salary, it can become almost too easy to stop thinking about furthering your
education. Living from month to month seems like the only option. However, at
one point or another, thoughts of developing your career further will probably
start to enter into your mind.
One
of the keys to career success is a good tertiary education, and chances are
that if you don’t have a degree or diploma behind your name, your career path
might just hit a brick wall and you may lose out on your chance to be promoted
within your existing company to a better-qualified candidate, or you might be
passed over at the application stage when applying for a job elsewhere due to
not having the required qualifications.
One
of the best ways to advance your career is to complete industry-specific certifications
or go back to school to get a qualification. Unfortunately for many, the idea
of going to university or completing a diploma while working a full-time job is
daunting. Multiply the stress of a spouse, children, and all the other
activities you’ve got going on, and studying for a certification seems like the
furthest thing from an actual possibility.
Although
difficult, it is quite possible to balance your family, job, and obligations
while studying for a degree or diploma. The following are some handy tips to
help you on your journey to get the qualifications you’re after and give your
career a kick start.
1. Enlist the help of family and
friends
If
you are serious about doing some form of study then it’s vital to have support
from those closest to you. Talk to your partner, family and friends before
embarking on a new course and make sure they understand why this is so
important. That way, they will understand that you may not always have quite as
much time for them as you would like.
2. Split up the reading
Split
up your reading into weekly intervals, preferably as soon as you receive your study
materials. Calculate how many days you have and how many pages you must read in
order to finish the book. Then create a weekly reading schedule, do some
calculations and write out how much reading you must do each day on a calendar.
Each day when you’ve finished your reading, cross it off.
Reading
an entire text book in a week can be done. However, in order to get a strong
grasp of the material, slower and more consistent study can be of greater value.
Breaking the reading down into small chunks will give you a sense of
accomplishment every day and will help you avoid feelings of panic closer to a
test.
3. Sneak it in
Try
keeping some review materials on you at all times — even if it is something as
simple as a note card with review concepts on it. There are tons of times
throughout the day that you will have five to ten minute periods when you are
free. These include waiting in a doctor’s office, catching a bus or train,
waiting at line in the grocery store, etc. You might as well leverage these
times to study. The more time you can “sneak” studying in, the less time you’ll
have to devote to studying later in the night when you could be spending time
with family or doing something more interesting.
4. Make one sacrifice per day
In
order to complete your course you’re going to have to make some sacrifices. Skipping
an hour of television per night could make it possible for you to complete your
reading and still have some free time later to relax.
5. Create a planned cram
The
day (or week) before your exam you’ll likely start to feel rising levels of
stress. If you can manage it, take the day off work before your exam. Even if
you feel totally confident with the material, having the day off will keep your
stress levels down, clear your head, and give you the opportunity to brush up
on some of the material that you may have been avoiding.
6. Talk to your employer
If
you are advancing your education under your own initiative it’s worth letting
your employer know about your plans and goals. Employers would rarely frown
upon an employee improving their skills and by keeping them in the know you
will receive greater understanding and support when you might need to take a
day or two off for exams.
7. Play to your strengths
People’s
learning styles vary dramatically, so what works for someone else may not work
for you. If you perform better in the morning, set aside an hour once or twice
a week for studying. Students’ concentration spans also vary so keep this in
mind to maximise learning either in bite sized chunks or longer periods. The
key is to find what works for you and then plan your time accordingly.
8. Create a study zone
If
possible, it helps to have an area that is dedicated to studying, whether that
means converting a spare room into a temporary study or tucking a desk into the
corner of the living room. If you prefer to leave the house then you could try
a quiet local coffee shop or your public library. Wherever it may be, creating
this distinction between study time and the rest of your day will help to
engage your brain and get you in the mood for learning.
9. Find a study partner
Setting
goals with fellow students can be a great way of overcoming hurdles and
boosting your own motivation. Making new friends is often an added bonus to
adult learning, and technological developments mean it is now possible for
people on distance learning courses to develop such relationships via the
internet. If you are considering home study then it’s worth checking if the
course provider has a virtual student community, which can effectively
replicate the social environment of more traditional educational
establishments.
Often
the hardest thing about combining work with study is making the decision to do
it in the first place. Once you get started you will probably find that it’s
not as difficult as you’d imagined. Choosing a course that allows you to study
via distance learning can also be helpful as you can work at your own pace
without being tied down to specific timescales. Studying doesn’t have to take
over your life: just a few hours each week can make all the difference.
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