Whether as an undergraduate or postgraduate, getting a degree is a huge achievement that every graduate should be proud of. Following a degree programme requires a great amount of dedication, both financially and in terms of devoting precious leisure time to study; however, the sense of achievement and further job opportunities having a degree will provide you with will make it worthwhile.
While many people go to university to get their undergraduate degree straight after finishing high school, you might have decided to build up your savings and work experience by getting a job and only now be seriously considering pursuing your undergraduate degree. Or, you might want to return to university on a postgraduate programme in order to progress in your career. In either of these cases, you might be put off pursuing higher education due to the responsibilities of a full-time job and family life; however, there are ways that you can fit study around a busy life, like pursuing one of the quick degrees for working adults. Here is a guide to getting your degree whilst working a full-time job.
Update your employer
It is a good idea to update your employer once you have made the decision to return to university. Pursuing a degree programme is a big commitment, and you may need to book time off work around exams and assignment deadlines to give you uninterrupted study time. If your programme involves stretches of work experience, you might need to arrange this additional time off with your employer. Getting your employer on board with your plans is likely to prove hugely beneficial, especially if you are studying a programme that has a direct application to your current role and looks set to develop your skill set so that you become a valuable employee. For instance, some companies might be willing to partially finance your study as part of your further development, or they allow you to rearrange your schedule to get the most out of your study time.
Find flexible programmes
Traditionally, studying a degree programme involved attending lengthy lectures on a set timetable at a higher education institute. However, sometimes life simply gets in the way (for instance, you might be required to work overtime or struggle to arrange consistent childcare), and as a result, you are unable to attend as many lectures and seminars as you would like. Furthermore, the pressure of rushing to college after work in order to attend class on time can soon takes its toll on you, leaving you feeling stressed and burnt out and unable to study effectively. Fortunately, many universities are now offering flexible online programmes that allow you to study whenever and wherever you want. For instance, look for a distance learning business degree if you would like to boost your business skills and get your master’s of science in business while continuing to build your industry experience.
Use your free time productively
If you are juggling study around a full-time job and family commitments, you might think that you have no free time at all. However, by analysing your habits and daily routine, you are likely to be surprised at just how much free time you have hidden away in odd moments. It is important that you use this free time productively as this will help you to balance your day job and study time more effectively, preventing you from burnout. You might discover, for example, that you spend an hour or more mindlessly scrolling Twitter and other social media platforms throughout the course of the day; use this time instead to do five minutes of reading from an assigned text or going over your notes from the previous class. You could also look to multitask whenever possible. For instance, listen to textbooks and other set texts on audiobook whilst you are commuting to and from the office and whilst doing monotonous chores like ironing.
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Arrange your study space
The place in which you choose to study can have a huge effect on just how effective or ineffective your study session is. Try to organize a desk in your home where you can keep all your study materials, from files and textbooks to notebooks and pens. Try to keep your desk clutter-free by removing empty mugs and food cartoons and organizing your equipment at the end of every study session. You could even invest in a matching stationery set for a fun and aesthetic study space. If you are participating in online classes, you might want to set up your study space in a separate room to give you some privacy; however, if this is not possible (if, for instance, you live in a flatshare in which space is at a premium), it would be worthwhile investing in a reliable pair of noise cancelling headphones, so that you can block out distractions and focus entirely on your university work.
Look after yourself
Juggling a degree programme around a full-time job is intense. With different responsibilities from different parts of your life all demanding your attention, it can be all too easy to work long hours with little downtime. This can quickly have an impact on your stress levels and lead to burnout. Remember to look after yourself by fitting some time for rest and self-care into your packed schedule. For instance, switch off from studying and get your body moving with a short yoga practice. Furthermore, though it might be tempting to fit in more study hours by getting up early and going to bed late, it is important that you get enough sleep. Doctors recommend between six and nine hours of sleep per night, but your optimum sleep time may differ. Do not skimp on sleep, as this can have major implications on your concentration levels and overall health.
To conclude, making the decision to study a degree programme while working a full-time job is a big commitment and considerably important career move as well; however, the rewards you get in terms of achievement and promotional opportunities makes the process well worthwhile.