STUDYING AS AN ADULT – TOP 5 TIPS

Studulting: a term I just created to describe the act of studying as a grown up/adult.

Remember the days when your parents would nag you about leaving assignments to the last minute? Yeah, as an adult choosing to study online, you don’t get that anymore. And you kind of miss it.

I’ve been completing some online studies over the past few months and while there are some pros (hello, attending webinars from my bed), there are some definite cons to the whole thing.

Here are some helpful tips I have for you about coping with studying as an adult:

1 Organise Your Study Space

As much as studying from bed in your pyjamas each day might sound relaxing, it probably shouldn’t become a habit. Find a space in your home where you can sit at a desk with your resources and find even 30 minutes of peace per day. Keep the area for study-related things only – you’ll be surprised how productive you can be if your thinking is limited to one area.

Your study space doesn’t have to be your home, either. You might work best at your local library, or at a café – choose a spot that works best for you that you feel you thrive at productively and make it your designated space for learning.

2 Manage Your Time Wisely

We don’t have parents reminding us to get things done this time around, so it’s important to manage your time wisely. Have an assignment due in 2 weeks? Get your calendar out and set aside appropriate time so you complete what is required without too much stress.

Plan ahead, put reminders in your phone/your calendar/in your bathroom if you’re that unorganised. The more you get into a routine and do things bit by bit, the easier it will be to complete things without rushing (that’s usually how I end up making errors in the long run).

3 Store Your Information Correctly

Whether you like to go for a pretty stationery theme or if you’re just using second hand folders, make sure you store print outs and textbooks in folders so that you can quickly find what you are looking for.

Not only course work, but I also keep a folder with correspondence with my teacher, just in case I need to refer back to things in the future. Regularly go through your folders and paperwork and discard things that you no longer need to ensure all information you have is current.

4 Look For Bargains

If you are studying on a budget, make sure you do your research regarding the course you are interested in before you enrol – some courses out there differ in price depending on where they are held and their delivery method (eg: in class or online). Course prices also might differ depending on whether you are receiving any welfare payments or if you have completed previous study before.

Another area you might want to research in is textbooks – the majority of course textbooks can be found either online or ordered into local libraries for a fraction of the price you may purchase them for directly from your training provider. Keep an eye out on your local Facebook boards too – someone might just be finishing the course you are about to start and might have your textbook!

5 Ask For Help If You Need It

Studying as a grown up is hard. Juggling classes of any kind can be extremely difficult with the busy lives that we lead. But just remember – you aren’t alone!

Make sure you keep communication with your teacher constant and ask for help when you need it. If things get to be too much and you feel like throwing in the towel, just remember you are not alone! There are support people who can help you with your studies and even people who might be able to talk to you if you are having financial or personal difficulties which could be hindering you from being the best student you know you can be.

You got this!