Returning to study in your 40s might seem daunting. You will need to do a lot of research and choose the right university where you will feel welcomed and valued! I am a final-year Marketing Student at Anglia Ruskin University in London, and I will share my experience with you, giving you a few tips that have helped me integrate and become a top achiever in my 40s. Here is a word of advice—You will need to do lots of work on your mindset and take small, achievable steps.
Plan your workload
Plan out your workload at the beginning of the semester so you are on top of your time. Organize your class times and work sessions in a calendar for easiness and to keep you on track. Start working on your major projects as soon as you are given all the details from your teachers. It will make everything much easier, and you won’t feel like you are running out of time before submission. You can always plan group study sessions with your colleagues! That will help you make friends too, and brainstorming and working in a team is always a great way to have fun while getting your tasks done.
Establish routines
Once your workload is planned, set time aside each week to fulfill your tasks; try to use holidays wisely or ask your boss for a few extra hours off if you feel stuck or overwhelmed (most employers are very understanding when they hire students).
Another great option is to use your commute time to work to catch up on your readings and essays using your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Set achievable milestones
Split your study time into smaller chunks—you can use intelligent apps like Pomodoro to help you fit the time into your busy schedule with lots of breaks so you can focus more efficiently.
Learn which goals you can realistically achieve from the start of the semester and set yourself small milestones. Trust me, you will feel empowered once you have reached every single one of your small steps!
Get into a study mindset
Sometimes, I don’t feel like studying either… I mean, we all want to spend more time with our friends and family, especially in the summertime; Christmas is coming, my birthday, etc… There will always be something happening! I tell myself in those moments: ” One more exam, one more month, one more year…and then you will be able to have that career you have always dreamed of without compromising that precious family time anymore!”
PS – Personally, I find instrumental music and white noise apps to work wonderfully too!
Learn to manage a high workload
It can happen…sometimes your work schedule and tasks may collide with your studies, so it is up to you to know about the support from your university (most places have a Health and Wellbeing team and an Academic Support team), your workplace, and your family and make sure you ask for help! It will Take time to figure out a work-study balance, but remember: everyone wants you to succeed, and they are all here to help! Most importantly, find a quiet space where you can work/study uninterrupted.
Putting your phone on silent helps too!
Conclusion
Regardless of age or where you find yourself in life, the best thing you can do to keep up a good work-study balance is to keep yourself healthy and fit, eat nutritious foods, move your body, and take those well-needed breaks between work and study.
It will not be easy, and it will challenge you and make you wonder why you chose to work while studying, but then the exam results will start arriving, and you will surprise yourself with your achievements.
I am proud of myself, and you will be too! remember: it is only for a few years!