Studying — For a happier you

Making the decision to study is a daunting one — especially when you start to add this onto your other responsibilities — work, kids and your social life.

But studying doesn’t have to be a complete drain on your already-stretched schedule. With plenty of flexible ways you can study these days, it’s now easier than ever to find a balance between hitting the books and continuing with full-time work and other commitments.

To help you, we’ve compiled a number of questions you ought to ask yourself and consider before diving head first into a course.

What makes you tick?

There is no point taking on a course that is going to bore you to tears. Chances are you probably already have a good idea about what you enjoy doing. Studying something you aren’t passionate about will simply sap your motivation levels and make it near impossible to make the time to study, so don’t waste your time on something you don’t care about. If you’re still struggling to choose between a couple of courses, check out the subjects and identify the course with the most subjects you think you’ll enjoy.

Don’t forget that studying something that may not directly help you in your current career can still help you in your job, teaching you a lot of life skills and provide you with fulfillment and stimulation. Although not directly related to your work, studying teaches you motivation, discipline as well as time management and creativity skills.

How much can you commit?

The first thing to consider is how much time you can realistically dedicate to your studies. You may know of the 8-month pregnant mother-to-be that juggles her course along with caring for her other children and working part-time, but that doesn’t mean the same applies for you. Courses are offered part-time or fullt-ime, and TAFE or short courses may be the better choice if you’re unsure about whether you can take on the longer commitments of a university degree. Ensure you check with your course provider about recognition of prior learning or work experience, which can shave off extra time on your course.

How do you learn?

The delivery of your learning is another important thing to consider. Online courses offer the most flexibility, studying online you find providers such as Course Finder who offer a fantastic mix of courses to fit any requirement. This allows you to work on your course in your spare time and are perfect for full-time professionals or individuals living in remote regions. Some prefer a more interactive approach and now a lot of online courses offer online classes or weekly webinars with lecturers or email support.

Of course if online study isn’t for you, you can also consider night classes or pursuing a course full-time.

Trust your instincts

It may seem simple, but after looking at all your possibilities, try and pick the course that you’re most attracted to. If there is something about a course you feel uncomfortable with, move onto something else until you find a course that you could easily talk about for 10 minutes if someone asked you, ‘so what do you love about your course?’

Don’t be afraid to ask your course provider and push for any information you’re missing. Studying can be a fun, enjoyable and fulfilling experience and is well worth giving up a couple of extra hours a week for!