Are you constantly thinking of new ways to improve your life and tired of allowing other people to control your life? I’m here to tell you that it’s never too late to start your new career or next chapter of your life. If you have been working in soul destroying jobs for most of your adult life and think it’s too late to change careers at 40, 50 and beyond, think again. How many times have you thought of studying for a new career but your mind, fear has always stopped you from moving forward with your dreams. The good news is that you have developed patience and you have proved to yourself that you are resilient and you have overcome most of what life has thrown at you along the way. This is a sign that you can succeed, realise how far you have come working in a career that no longer resonates with your soul’s purpose. The next chapter of your life is about you and what makes you happy. If you are thinking of retraining and studying for a new career then this blog post is for you! I’m going to share my 7 ways to succeed as a mature student.
- Know what you want and WHY: Working in the wrong career has taught you what you DON’T want but the million dollar question to ask yourself now is: “What do I want that will make me happy?” So many people go through life working in environments that do not resonate with them and this can leave them feeling burned out and unfulfilled; this can also cause stress and illness in the body. Find out what makes your heart sing when you get out of bed in the morning. What do you look forward to doing on the weekend? Perhaps it’s a hobby that you really enjoy and you want to develop further and make it your full time career. The opportunities are endless and all you need to do is find out WHAT you are passionate about. Don’t worry HOW you will achieve your new career, the first step is figuring out what makes you happy and everything else will fall into place with time.
2. Time management: If you are going to complete your studies you need to manage your time. There is no way around this, if your family or friends want to go out on the weekend and you have an assignment or need to study for an exam, you will need to stay disciplined and choose your studies. If your choice is spending time on other activities the chances of you completing your studies are limited. Studying is a commitment to yourself and your future. Time management is important to stay on track of your goals and completing your tasks for the week and months ahead. The sacrifice of not watching netflix or going out on the weekend will be worth it in the end.
3. Make health your priority: If you continue working and studying part time alongside a full-time job you will need to schedule time for exercise and self-care. You want to make sure that you have the energy to continue working and studying; it’s a big responsibility on yourself and you are on a mission to succeed but your qualification is not going to be worth anything to you if you get sick and end up in hospital with stress or illness from not looking after your health. Maintain a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and drink as much water as needed to help your body increase energy.
4. Sleep for success: No one said that this was going to be easy, studying is a big commitment in your life for your time and energy and if you are tired it can seem impossible to complete that assignment or study for an exam. Plan your schedule a few weeks in advance as that way you can block an hour or more of free time for any unexpected tasks during the week. Aim to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time in the morning. Create a sleep routine and give yourself at least half an hour before sleep to wind down and reflect on your day. Sleep is important to replenish your energy and to help you focus during the day. Most people need 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night, listen to your body and do what feels right for you.
5. Every minute counts: As a mature student, you will be juggling many other responsibilities in your life and every minute counts. If you travel to work and you spend an hour on a train or bus, perhaps you can read a chapter or make notes for an assignment. Plan and use your time wisely, think of how you can use your time during lunch breaks at work to catch up on your reading tasks for the week. If you stay focussed, organized and you can stay on track to complete your goals.
6. Manage your stress: It’s important to take regular breaks away from your computer and get plenty of fresh air and exercise to manage stress. If you find it stressful to remain on track with completing tasks you can try the pomodoro timer, it’s a customizable timer to help you focus and take regular breaks away from your computer. Find an exercise that you enjoy to maintain your energy levels. Schedule time for family and friends, you will need a support team around you, positive people that will understand your commitment and help you maintain your balance during the difficult moments.
7. Stay positive: Have faith in yourself, stay positive and realize that it takes time to achieve your goals. Studying and reinventing yourself takes time and it might be between 5 to 8 years before you start seeing the positive changes in your life as a result of your studies and your own personal development. The important part is to stay positive during this time and enjoy the process of learning and developing yourself for a career that resonates with your soul. Know that everything is always working out for you and that you are on a special journey for your highest good.