Many young adults looking to make a better future are going back to college or career school. But getting an education while holding down a full-time job or taking care of a family can pose a major challenge to even the most capable individuals.
If you’re a working student or you are a young mom or dad who’s thinking about training for a new career, here are some time management tips that can make your experience easier — and more rewarding:
1) Make sure you know how much time you must really commit to your education. Understand you will need not only time for classes, but time for study and homework as well. Don’t overwhelm yourself with classes only to find you have no time for anything or anyone else, including yourself.
2) Don’t forget about transportation time. When budgeting your day, be sure to leave sufficient time for getting to and from classes, even in bad weather. Choosing a school close to your home or workplace can help minimize “wasteful” commuting time.
3) Commit a certain block of time every day to your studies. You should have a “study hour” blocked out at the same time every day. One of the best ways to make a difficult activity easier is to make is rhythmic.
4) Choose a dedicated study area. Just like you dedicate certain hours to your education, choose a personal, permanent “study space” as well. This can be a den, a bedroom desk, the dining room table, etc. Make sure you have all the materials you need close at hand.
5) Prioritize your assignments. When you have multiple tasks to complete, getting started can often be difficult. To overcome this problem, rank your tasks from most important to least important. (Obviously, all your assignments are important, but a report that is due tomorrow should have a higher priority than one that’s not due for another week.) You might also choose to begin with a short, easy assignment just to give yourself an immediate sense of accomplishment and get your mind into “work mode.”
6) Avoid distractions. When you’re studying at home, it’s very easy to be distracted by household demands and the many entertainment options at your disposal. Do your best to avoid these distractions/temptations during your allotted study time.
7) Make your family a partner in your progress. If you have a family, make them a part of your academic success. This can range from having a spouse or child help you prepare for tests to “pitching” in on household chores so you can prepare yourself to earn a better living for you and your family.
Going back to school requires that you develop a whole new set of work habits compared to the kind of structured education you experienced during your childhood and teenage years. But with these challenges come many rewards, and learning to manage your time effectively is a skill you can use for your entire adult life.
Everest College Offers Flexible Class Schedules for Working Adults
Everest College of Business, Technology and Health Care offers flexible class schedules designed specifically to meet the needs of working adults. Everest has campuses throughout Ontario and offers accelerated career education programs in such fields as Business Administration, Banking and Financial Services, Legal Administrative Assistant, Network and Security Specialist and Health, Fitness and Nutrition Consultant. For more information about programs and schedules, contact Everest today!
