If you are working and looking to head back to school, Haley Foutch, EdS, NCC, Senior Career Counselor at the University of Phoenix, offers these 5 tips to maintain balance for working adults going back to school.
You have goals and dreams.
You have ideas for transforming your career through higher education. You also have a life.
Going back to school when you have other major responsibilities is undoubtedly courageous and worthwhile, but it also may be one of the most challenging things you ever do.
Here are 5 Tips to Maintain Balance for Working Adults Going Back to School.
These will help maintain your balance (and your sanity) while juggling school and the rest of life’s responsibilities.
5 Tips to Maintain Balance for Working Adults Going Back to School
1. Set Small, Actionable Goals that Align with Your Main Goal
You can set these in weekly or monthly increments.
Achieving mini-goals can help you stay motivated and energized to keep pushing forward.
2. Put Your Life into Your Calendar
Create a schedule and stick to it as much as possible.
It should include everything from family activities to the time you designate for studying.
This will help you prioritize goals and manage your time.
Try scheduling out your day in 30-minute increments to maximize productivity.
This can also help you determine when activities take longer than planned, so you can adjust moving forward and ensure you devote the appropriate time needed to accomplish each task.
3. Let Something Go
Assess all of your responsibilities right now.
Prioritize what must remain in your hands and what you can let go.
This can be of the most challenging parts of the process; however, it can make a huge difference in your stress level.
For example, perhaps you are heavily involved in a nonprofit near and dear to your heart.
If this adds an extra two hours of work to your week, it may be time to put it on hold.
Delegate responsibilities to trustworthy people, so you have peace of mind (and time) to focus on other things.
4. Utilize the Resources Available
This includes things that will speed up your comprehension of subjects, such as tutoring.
From the beginning of your program, take time to identify the resources offered to you.
Reflect on what would be helpful to you and ask if it exists.
Resources can also include supportive friends and family who may be willing to lend a hand, particularly when they are aware of what you are trying to accomplish.
5. Take Time for Yourself
I know, I know.
You are busier than ever, trying to juggle everything.
Not allowing yourself a break may work for a bit, but eventually, you are likely to burn out.
Schedule regular breaks, whether it is a few hours of fun or a full weekend away.
I hope that this article has given you the perspective you need as working adults going back to school.
It might be difficult, but an accomplishment you’ll be proud of at the end of the day.
Are there any concerns you have about going back to school? Or anything you’re looking forward to?
Do tell me in the comments below!
Haley Foutch, EdS, NCC is a Senior Career Counselor at University of Phoenix.
University of Phoenix is innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. That is why these 5 Tips to Maintain Balance for Working Adults Going Back to School are so important,
University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.
[ Updated – November 3, 2020 ]
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