Study Tips for Working Women
Going back to school as a working woman poses lots of challenges. If you are already a student, or are thinking of becoming one, there are many ways you can keep up with your family and other responsibilities while furthering your education. One of the biggest obstacles for working adult students is finding the time to study. Whether you’re taking an online class, evening class, or going to school full-time during the day, it’s difficult to squeeze study into your already busy days.
College Study Tips for Working Adults
If you haven’t been a student since high school, or you can count the years since you were in college on more than one hand, it’s difficult to get back into the swing of things. So here are study skills and tips that can help you get back on the education track:
- Study before and after classes. When you’re waiting for class to begin, go over your notes from the previous class. After class, review your notes and make a list of things you need to study in-depth later. While it’s not a ton of studying, it will help you to retain information and do less studying later. Even if you take online classes, take 10 minutes before and after reading your lecture to review notes.
- Schedule time to study. By making an appointment with yourself to study, you’ll be more likely to get your homework done. Try to schedule about 2 hours a day for study and homework. Ask friends and family to respect those hours and give you some peace and quiet.
- Study smart. If you have downtime at your job or a long train commute, use that time to sneak in some studying. Make flash cards or write information on 3x5 cards for those times. You can also skim over a chapter or do other work or study that doesn’t require your full concentration and focus.
- Take a break. Studying for hours on end is less productive than you would think. Schedule your study time so that every 45 minutes to an hour you take a 10- or 15-minute break. Walk around, get a snack, do some dishes . . . anything to give your mind a break. When you hit the books after your break, you’ll find your mind refreshed.
- Reduce distractions. While it’s easy to pay bills and watch TV at the same time, it doesn’t work for studying. Make sure you have the TV and radio off when you sit down to study. Also keep a notebook handy so you can write down those pesky “to do�? thoughts like, “I need to pay the gas bill tomorrow,�? or “Bill wanted me to do those reviews by Thursday.�? That way you won’t lose the thought, but you can keep studying and worry about your to do list later.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling with a subject at school, ask some other students if they want to make a study group. You can also talk to your professor and see if you can schedule time to discuss the issue with him or her. Your teachers and fellow students can be great resources. You just need to be willing to use them!
Study Tips for Working Parents
If you’ve got children, then studying can be an extra special problem. Your time is not all your own. While school is a top priority, your family still holds first place. Finding time in your day to attend class and study when you have a family can seem impossible. Depending on the number of children you have and their ages, it can be easier or harder than you think. However, try out these college study tips and see if you can’t make it all work!
- Make a family schedule. On this schedule, you can show your family the time you need to set aside for attending class and studying. You can also write down special activities for your children to do while you’re studying. This will make them still feel important, but provide a distraction for them while you do homework.
- Create a safe play area were you study. If you need to keep an eye on your kids while you study, create a play area and childproof the room. Set out their favorite toys or give them an “assignment�? to complete. Make sure that you reward them for being quiet and completing their assignment. When you take breaks from studying, be sure to spend some one-on-one time with them.
- Have your children help. Depending on the age of your children, you can enlist them to help you study. Have them quiz you with flashcards, type out your papers, go over your notes with you, or be an audience while you practice presentations. They’ll learn how to be a good student, get to interact with you, and help you out – all at the same time!
- Keep your family your number one priority. When a working parent goes back to school, the family can often feel left out and forgotten. In order to keep your family as your #1 priority, spend the first 10 to 15 minutes after you get home with your children and/or spouse. Talk to them about their day, play a game, read a book with them, or go for a short walk together. It will help them realize that they are your first priority. This will make it easier on everyone when you have to study later in the evening.
- Once again, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Only this time, if a fellow student also has children, you can set up a babysitting schedule that will give each of you time away from your kids to get intensive work done. By trading off, you can save money on babysitters and get your work done. However, if you do need a babysitter, there are many great services available to help you find a great babysitter!
Many working adults go back to school, get their degrees and better their lives. You can do it, too! With the proper planning and help from family and friends, a better life is within your reach.
