Jake PopistThere are many advantages to going back into education. If you’ve grown tired of your current job and aspire for bigger and better things, it makes sense to obtain the relevant credentials to boost your earning power and help you climb the career ladder. Whether you’re after a career in business, healthcare, retail, or want to start your own brand, learning new skills is essential, especially if you want to be taken seriously by employers and secure job interviews.
Once you’re ready to enroll in a course, you may like the idea of studying from home. With online studying on the rise, getting the most out of your program is critical for success. Here are some useful self-care tips that will ensure you flourish with the grades you want.
Get Organized
No matter what course you’ve decided to embark on, before learning gets underway, it’s time to get organized. With tons of modules, coursework, and deadlines to adhere to, you need to be in full control from start to finish. If you aren’t organized and managing your workload effectively, this can lead to burnout and falling behind.
Whether you’re studying to become a nurse or embarking on an accredited online MBA program, careers in healthcare and business require you to be organized. If you’re studying from home, it’s wise to allocate a room away from family life that can be dedicated towards learning. Make sure you have the right stationery and reading materials and ensure there are no distractions to take your mind off studying.
Exercise Daily
We all understand how important daily exercise is for keeping our weight in check, boosting energy levels, and improving our mental health, so once you become a student, getting into the habit of physical activity is a must. If you don’t like going to the gym, you can work out from home instead. There are plenty of exercises you can do from the comfort of your living room in between studying that will get your heart pumping.
As you start your fitness journey, this should help you in feeling more motivated and driven to succeed in your course. To help you reach your fitness goals, you may wish to find a friend to work out with. Whatever exercise you do, as long as you find 30 minutes in the day for physical activity, it can transform how you study.
Change Your Diet
When you’re sitting behind a desk studying for endless hours, the temptation to get a takeout to keep you going can be difficult. While you may get an initial burst of energy from junk food, it’s not going to sustain you during long studying sessions. This means it’s wise to stick to healthier foods instead that will spark creativity, boost energy, and keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Eating more fruits and vegetables is the best place to start. Make sure you pack your plate with plenty of vitamins and nutrients, as they’ll boost cognitive function and keep you going. You should also eat lots of protein to keep your stomach full. Making minor changes to your diet can yield great results, so if you’re serious about getting top marks, it’s time to make alterations in what you eat.
Make Time for Sleep
This self-care tip will benefit any student – getting more sleep! Once you’ve enrolled and started your course, you need to factor in lots of shuteye in between studying. Understandably, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible learning, but this can come at a price. Should you forego sleep in favor of studying, your concentration and memory will be affected, which can impact the grades you get.
Getting a good night’s sleep will help you wake up feeling fresh and ready for a day of studying. If you’re constantly tossing and turning and keeping tabs on the clock, certain things can help. For example, try not to use your smartphone in bed, as the blue light can trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime. Also, getting into a sleep schedule will align your body clock. This means you should go to bed and wake up at the same time (even on weekends!).
Practice Relaxation Techniques
If you’re studying from home, you may have all sorts of responsibilities alongside your course. Whether it’s holding down a full-time job, or looking after your children, there will inevitably be some stress and anxiety along the way. If things get too much, there are relaxation techniques that can help in soothing you and bringing stress down.
Many students all over the globe use meditation as a way to zone out from the hustle and bustle of daily life. As you start meditating, this can help in reducing stress, managing anxiety, and lengthening your attention span. Deep breathing techniques can also help in controlling stress and help you concentrate better on your work.
Talk to Loved Ones
The thought of becoming a student again may fill you with fear. If you’ve been out of education for many years, it can feel like you’re studying alone. While some students flourish in their program, others have difficulty along the way. If you resonate with the latter, having a strong support network around you can be a big help. Don’t feel embarrassed about talking to your friends and family. After all, they’re there to love and support you no matter what.
The last thing you want is to fall behind in your degree, so if you’re struggling to keep on top, having someone to speak to about your worries and problems can alleviate stress. Also, make sure to speak to the university staff too. They are trained to support students throughout the course, so regardless of what you study, there will be a support team in place to guide you.
Schedule Regular Breaks
Once you’ve found the perfect course that aligns with your career goals, you’ll understandably want to spend as much time as possible learning. However, if you’re not scheduling regular breaks, you may find it difficult to stay alert. Don’t feel guilty about having some time away from the computer screen. Use breaks as an opportunity to get outside, call up a friend, or have something to eat. Once you have a break from your workload, you’ll return to your learning feeling more positive and upbeat. Also, you’ll be more productive and eager to get back to learning.
Take Up a Hobby
Taking up a hobby can be a fantastic stress reliever. It can encourage you to take breaks, as well as provide new experiences and challenges. When you’re a student, you need to have things away from learning that provide excitement and enjoyment. Without them, the lines may blur between your study, work, and social life. If you like to try out new things and have some spare time, taking up a hobby can broaden your mindset.
There are all kinds of hobbies you can get stuck into. These include gardening, going for walks, playing a sport, or baking. The choice is truly endless, so try and find something you have an interest in, otherwise, you’re unlikely to stick at it. Once you have exciting things to look forward to outside of studying, this will give you more purpose and make your student years more fun.
Keep Hydrated
To get the most out of your course, drinking plenty of water when learning is essential. With so much of our bodies being made up of water, the more you drink, the better. It’s recommended you have eight glasses of water per day, as this will stop you from becoming dehydrated, and keep your mind and body in check.
While some people enjoy the taste of water, others aren’t so keen. If you find it tastes plain and bland, there are certain things you can do to give your drink a kick. Adding a slice of lemon or lime can elevate the flavor and keep you hydrated.
Practice Positive Thinking
With so much doom and gloom in the world, you’ll be forgiven for having a negative view on the outside. However, this way of thinking can interfere with your learning and stop you from achieving your goals. The health benefits of positive thinking are endless. As you start to look on the bright side and think positively, this can boost your mental and physical health and improve your social life. Having belief in yourself is crucial during your student years. Once you pass each module with flying colors, this should give you a huge sense of accomplishment that will spur you on to work harder and fulfill your potential.
Whatever career goals you have, achieving them starts from paying attention to your health and wellbeing. When you start a course, you need to be in the best mindset possible, otherwise, all your hard work, time, and money will go to waste. Using the self-care strategies above will help you stay on track with your program, keep committed to learning, and see you graduate with the best marks possible.
Jake Popist
