Getting Back into Education

Raise your hand if you've had a super restful Christmas break, and the thought of going back to school, college or university is like a looming black cloud? After any sort of break it can be unbelievably hard to get back into the swing of things; why is it that falling out of a routine is so much easier than getting back into one!?

In 2014 I made the decision not to go to university right away, and instead completed a year long business apprenticeship with little written work involved; however, having now begun studying for a Business Management degree, the jump back into education has proved to be a little more taxing than anticipated. This post is all about getting back to it, whether it's Christmas that's put a spanner in the works, if you've taken a year out to travel, or you've simply taken a break from education.

Choose the Right Course. It may seem like an obvious point, but having had people ask me how I feel about my course, I sometimes question whether I have made the right decision! It is important that you consider all options; although there are hundreds of courses out there that sound the same, there could be one component that will swing it. If you can't find something that's right for you at a convenient location, why not consider Open University? Many people don't realise that there are so many options that can be completed from the comfort of your own home- perfect! If you find that you've already started your course and you have second thoughts, you have several options; I would suggest taking to your tutor or mentor first, and then go from there. 

Get Organised! If you know me at all, or have read my previous posts, you'll know that this is a biggie for me. Making sure that you know what you are doing and at what time is essential when getting back into education. After all, everybody has other things going on in their life, maintaining a healthy balance is super important! I like to use a diary to plan, as well as my phone calendar and oodles of post-it notes! If you know you have an exam or a deadline coming up, write it down in as many places as possible so you don't forget; preparation is key.

Be realistic. Setting yourself reachable goals is a good way of achieving satisfaction, as well as pushing yourself a little harder than usual. Whether you're a part time student, a parent, or undertaking full time studies, it is important that you set realistic goals; as I said before, everybody has different things going on aside from education. Whether its GCSE's, A Levels or a degree, studying requires a heck of a lot of commitment if you want to succeed.

Relax! Although it can be stressful, getting back into learning isn't the end of the world- it should be fun! Having the opportunity to choose our courses makes education enjoyable; despite questioning whether I made the right decision in studying business, even that has its flexibility allowing me to venture into areas that I find more interesting than others. If you're an anxious person, trust me, education should be the least of your worries! Despite being a little taxing at times, if you stay organised and prioritise your studies, you should have plenty of time to relax- did I hear someone say retail therapy!? 

Hopefully you feel a little bit better about getting back into the swing of things after reading this post; I know that it made me feel better just writing it! Forget the January blues and get stuck in, you can do it! 

-M xxx