Does the thought of heading back to school as an adult cause you to feel a little anxious? It’s understandable, especially if it’s been a few years since you were in school and family, work and other responsibilities now impact your life.
While balancing multiple priorities and maintaining focus throughout your program sounds challenging, going back to school doesn’t have to be a nerve-racking experience. As a career coach who mentors professionals on how to succeed in college, here are my 5 success strategies for returning to school as an adult so you can rest easy about your future.
1. Make Yourself a Study Space
There are many factors to consider when creating a study space. You’ll want a spot that’s organized, free from distractions and allows you to focus. If you don’t have a dedicated place to hit the books at home, try studying in a coffee shop, coworking space or a public library. Here are a few other things that can aid you in creating a comfortable study spot:
- Find good lighting. Consider studying near a window with natural light, as it helps with eye strain
- Use ergonomic chairs and desks that support good posture and allow you to focus
- Try noise-canceling headphones to help block outside noise or distractions
- Use scents like lavender or peppermint that can increase concentration and retention
2. Get Organized
You might try to convince yourself you can squeeze schoolwork in during your free time — but if you’re investing in going back to school, you’ll want to set aside time to do it well. When it comes to staying on top of your tasks, developing a routine and sticking to it is vital.
Create a weekly schedule for class, homework deadlines, work, hobbies and family time. For homework deadlines, always aim to complete the assignment a few days before the actual date to help reduce stress.
3. Use Time Management Tools
Even if you have excellent organizational skills, a full calendar of activities will likely cause you to feel overwhelmed at some point. Avoid stress and restore calm to your life by using various organizational tools, such as calendars, planners and task management applications to help you focus on urgent tasks.
Be sure to pay attention to your class syllabus to understand when projects are due and track them on an app like EverNote. Or if you have a group project, use the app to create tasks, assign due dates and set reminders to other team members. Try exploring several free time management tools like Toggl, ProofHub, Clockify, Pocket and Asana to see if one works best for you.
4. Take Advantage of Campus Resources
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and use campus resources. They’re part of your tuition, after all. Even if your program is online, numerous student services and campus resources can help meet your social, personal, academic and mental health needs.
If you need study materials, try exploring the University of Washington library system, which offers access to millions of print volumes and online resources. If you’re having technical issues, UW Professional & Continuing Education Online Learning Technical Support can help with account access and course technologies.
There are also several ways to meet up and connect with fellow students through the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, the Q Center, the Alene Moris Women’s Center and more. Mental health is also essential for your overall well-being; any member of the UW community can call SafeCampus anytime to anonymously discuss safety and welfare concerns for yourself or others. In addition, Crisis Connections provides immediate help to individuals, families and friends of people in emotional crisis or struggling to meet basic needs.
5. Give Yourself Grace
Engaging in negative self-talk is easy if something doesn’t go your way or you experience a minor setback. However, giving yourself a little grace can go a long way when it comes to your mental health and performance.
The key to giving yourself grace is self-compassion. If you make a mistake in class, don’t beat yourself up. Just acknowledge you’re imperfect and try better the next time. Remember that one poor test or performance doesn’t determine your intelligence or self-worth.
Practicing positive self-talk is also critical. For example, if you’re struggling to learn a particular concept, instead of saying you’ll fail, remind yourself this is an opportunity to gain experience. It’s okay if mastering a new idea takes a little bit more time.
When heading back to school, getting a strong start is key to your success. Incorporate these tips into your life to restore your motivation and ease stress as you complete your program.