Have you been thinking of studying for a new career but your life is full of responsibilities and you have no idea where to start, how you are going to find the time to commit to a study programme or start University as a mature student? I know the feeling, I’ve been there and I agree with you that it can seem like the biggest challenge of your life. As adults, we work to pay the bills and we barely have enough time to finish our lunch at the office during the week and at the end of the day we go home to make dinner, clean and manage all the other tasks in our daily lives. I’m here to tell you that IT IS POSSIBLE to achieve your goals IF you develop strategies to remain focused and use your time management skills. You and only YOU are ultimately responsible to make your dreams come true and change your life. If you have been thinking of a new career, studying to learn new skills and improving your life, then you are in the right place. I hope this blog post will be your guide to help you move forward with some ideas and time saving strategies on your journey to completing your studies as a mature student, realising your true potential and finding happiness in your life.
UNDERSTAND YOUR WHY AND FIND YOUR PURPOSE
First you will need to decide what you want to do with your life. If you could do whatever you want, what would you do? When you wake up in the morning, do you think about your hobbies, your passion and could you turn that into your career? Think about WHY you want to do something different in your life and what that will mean for you. Write down all the possibilities and don’t let the HOW you are going to do it stop you from writing your list. Don’t worry about about HOW you will accomplish everything, the important reason is that you really WANT to do this, if your feelings are strong, the ideas will start flowing. At this stage, family and friends might try and convince you that it cannot be done, some of the reasons might include that it’s too late to start over, you don’t have the time or finances. Stay strong and continue researching ideas and don’t allow any negativity to prevent you from moving forward with your plan.
Once you have decided what you want to do with your life think about the new skills that will be needed to achieve your goals and succeed in your new career.
THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE
The next important stage is to decide the type of course, what qualification do you want to achieve? Do you want a degree, diploma, certificate, how long do you want to study? There are many short and long term courses, choose a course that will help you achieve your goals and learn the skills that are needed for your new career. If you work full time, the flexibility of an online course will be helpful as you may not have time for evening classes during the week. I decided a degree was most suitable for the type of career I wanted and even though it has taken me more than 10 years with additional training and continuing education, I have no regrets as it has been the best decision of my life and worth every minute. The knowledge I have gained has changed my life, I have a growth mindset, I never want to stop learning. I know there are challenges along the way but the rewards are so much greater once you realise how far you can go to achieve your true calling in life.
Once you have decided on your course, congratulate yourself on the BIG DECISION that will change the rest of your life! When you receive your course material take some time to check your syllabus and workload for the year ahead and familiarise yourself with the schedule, the important dates for tutorials, assignments and exams. Make sure you understand the module guidance and how much time you will need to commit to your studies every week. This is the start of a new chapter in changing your life, you have made the decision, YOUR AMAZING STORY is just beginning.
PLANNING YOUR SCHEDULE
If you don’t have a diary or planner now is the time to buy one or look at electronic options such as google calendar. Whatever option you decide, start looking at your schedule and make sure that you can integrate studying into your life. Everyone should be able to plan their time but when you are studying and juggling work and personal life it’s even MORE IMPORTANT to know where you are spending your time. You will need to make sure how many hours of study time you will need every week. I used to block all my hours with all my tasks during the week so I knew exactly what I was doing every day. For example, I would block 5am-7am and wake up early in the morning to study or work on my assignments and another few hours 9pm-12pm at night. I have to tell you that it’s not going to be a walk in the park and the additional 10, 15 or 20 hours of study time will not magically appear, you will need to plan and schedule your time to succeed. Your friends and family might try to persuade you to go out with them on the weekends but if you have deadlines for an assignment or studying for an exam you will need to stay strong to your commitments. There will always be other weekends; don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, this is YOUR life, the priority is your future. Every minute helps when you are a mature student, and if you want to succeed and complete your certificate, diploma or degree you will need to make studying the centre of your life for the duration of your course.
MOTIVATION
Create a study routine and make sure you stay on track with your schedule. There will be many days where you will lose motivation but you will need to find the strength and keep moving forward. You will need to remind yourself of all the reasons why you are doing this and one of the best ways I have found is to keep a laminated poster of all the reasons WHY YOU DECIDED TO START STUDYING. This will help you to remain focused and keep going. Keep this poster near your computer at home or on your wall, somewhere that you will be able to see it and be reminded of all the reasons you started this exciting new chapter in your life. Some of the reasons might be:
- To realise my goal and graduate with my degree
- To retrain and be able to have a new career
- To start my own business
- To be happy in a career I love
- To have a rewarding career and help people
- To increase my income for myself and family
SMALL CHANGES LEAD TO BIG IMPROVEMENTS
You will need to accept that everything in your life will change and you may no longer be able to meet your friends every weekend and you might have to say “NO” many times to be able to have the time to study and achieve success for your future. If you don’t like your life at the moment or where you are at this stage of your career then something needs to change. Accept that it will be uncomfortable for a while, as mature students usually have to balance work commitments, family and education. If you are able to change your job and find a local job, you will save time on travel or perhaps you might be able to reduce your hours in your current job. Remember to continue working hard at your current job and know in your mind that everything is temporary until you are able to complete your studies and progress to your dream job or business. Continue to hold your vision of the future in your mind and know that one day soon all your hard work, the early mornings and late nights are worth the effort.
Long term goals consist of many smaller short- term goals on your journey.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR HEALTH
Your life is changing fast with the new chapter in your life, it is an exciting time with learning new things but it can feel stressful as there will be a lot to deal with. It is important to look after your health as you will have a lot to cope with all the changes in your lifestyle. Try to build some strategies to manage stress and look after your physical health and stay in control of your life. Some areas to focus on are:
Manage stress
Schedule time to relax away from your computer and take regular breaks when you are studying. Try meditation and focus on your breathing to relax your mind. Exercise regularly, find an exercise that you enjoy, a gentle exercise like yoga or swimming can help increase your energy. Get plenty of fresh air to increase the oxygen in your body to help reduce stress.
Sleep
If you are tired everything will seem worse than it actually is. Get into a sleep routine and make health your priority. If you are tired it can be difficult to remain focused and study. If I was tired then I made sure I got enough sleep and the following day I would have more energy to continue with my schedule. REMEMBER YOUR HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT, MAKE IT YOUR PRIORITY AND LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
Eat a healthy diet
Avoid junk food, maintain a healthy diet and learn about foods that are good for your body to help increase energy. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and drink as much water as you need.
Start a self-care practice
Don’t ignore your body’s need for rest or wait until you are exhausted to replenish your energy. Do whatever makes you happy. For example, if you want to spend time alone or sit quietly and read a book you can do that, have a massage or a facial, it is YOUR time to do whatever you love and relax. It is important to recharge your energy so you are able to continue with all your commitments.
Make time for family and friends
Once your family realise that you are serious about your education and this is not a phase you are going through they can support your decisions and give you the time and space you need to succeed. Maintain regular communication with the people that support you and keep them updated as often as possible. Let your friends know that you are committed to your study plan so they are not disappointed when you are not able to meet them. Make time to spend with your family and catch up with friends as this is all part of maintaining healthy relationships to help reduce stress and bring out the best in you. Remember you are not alone, your family and friends are part of your journey.
COMMIT TO IMPROVING YOUR LIFE
There are two questions to ask yourself, the first is, “who do I want to become,” and the second is, ” what do I have to do to get there?” Everything takes time and remind yourself daily that you are taking consistent action no matter how long it takes to achieve your goal. You must be willing to commit to improving your life and it might be three, four or even five years before you start to see the results of your hard work. You are planting the seed today and water it every day but it will take years before it becomes a tree with fruit! You can succeed if you make a decision, be consistent and committed to achieving your goals. Good things take time.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
confucius