Six excuses that prevent us from studying
For those who think that studying is expensive, annoying, and a total waste of time.
Learning something new can be a turning point not only in your career but also in your life as a whole: after going through courses, people often get promoted, find the courage to leave work, or even change their field of activity. Despite all this, we are prone to procrastination, postponing our studies “just for one more year,” while some of us never decide to take a step towards something new.
Let’s take a look at what excuses we give ourselves more often than others, what scares us and why, and what do we do to overcome our fears. Six points, that we find in Practicum by Yandex.
1. I don’t have the time to study
We’re afraid that studying will make our already busy lifestyle unbearable. Everyone has a job, and many have families, some have a hobby. Where does studying fit in? In reality, we’ll always find the time if what we do is truly important.
This excuse is based on a deep fear of not making it. We’re afraid of not meeting expectations, trying something new, and not seeing it through, displaying bad results.
What to do
- First things first. Answer one crucial question: what do you need to study for, and what will you gain from it?
- Write down a measurable goal. The best way to do this is by using the SMART system: the goal has to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, I want to get a job as a frontend-developer with a $6000 salary by December 2020.
- Make sure it’s actually you that wants it. Not your spouse or your mother — just you, otherwise it won’t work. Motivate yourself by examples, and finding time for studying will be a lot easier.
2. Studying is unlikely to help my career
Usually, the people that say this are those that have already tried studying put in a lot of money and effort but didn’t achieve any results and were disappointed. Now they think that history will repeat itself: the work won’t pay off, their career won’t advance, and only a trace of bitter regret will be left behind.
What to do
Be more thorough when choosing the place where you want to study. The market has tons of educational products with questionable value: usually, they aren’t expensive, but they aren’t exactly helpful either.
Before choosing a place to learn, read some reviews, talk to people who’ve graduated, examine the program and the people behind it. And remember — the keys to success are your strong intentions and motivation.
3. It’s too expensive to study
Many people still associate studying with getting a higher education, while advancing your career means getting a second degree.
What to do
Sometimes, getting a second degree is what you need (for example, if you’ve worked as a programmer your whole life, and now want to be a psychologist), but often you’ll find that some short-term courses will be enough. Knowledge has become accessible — there are many things you can learn for free. However, if your internal motivation is weak, even the most expensive college won’t bring you any results. So that’s where you have to start:
- Make sure your desire to study is coming from the inside.
- Understand how much money you’re willing to invest in your education so that your whole life doesn’t fall apart.
- Once you’ve set a budget, study the market and pick a suitable solution.
4. I already know everything I need
We understand it’s hard to admit you’re not perfect. It’s much easier to live in an illusion that everything is all right that we already know everything. People are afraid to leave their comfort zone and threaten their feeling of safety by admitting that some areas of their life require updates.
What to do
- Understand that if you’re going to study, that doesn’t make you a lousy worker that doesn’t know something. It means that you want to grow and better yourself, improve your professional self-esteem and broaden your horizon of opportunities.
- Start learning with the thought that making mistakes isn’t bad, but necessary: it’s a cornerstone of growth.
- Go with the mindset of enjoying the process, and don’t blame yourself if things don’t work out the first time around.
5. I don’t know what direction to choose.
Sometimes you know that you want to change something, but you’re unsure what exactly. Your current work isn’t fulfilling, and your area of activity doesn’t seem right for you. Do you start working for a new company? Change your profession? It’s essential to decide this before you start studying, or you run the risk of choosing a wrong vector.
What to do
Think about whether you like what you’re doing right now. Do you feel fulfillment at the end of the workday, or do you hate the whole world? Do you feel joy when you succeed, do you display your personality in your work? If the answer is “yes,” then you’re probably on the right track and should stick to it. If “no,” then perhaps you should change something.
Finding something meaningful to do with your life is an entirely different topic, but for starters, you can observe how you fill your free time when you don’t have work or other responsibilities. It could be a clue to the mystery.
6. Studying isn’t for me. It’s difficult and boring
Usually, the reason for this excuse is unreadiness to take on a big and complicated task. It’s a common fear and understandable, especially if you’re not entirely sure what studying will give you in the end.
What to do
Give it a try. You’ll notice that studying as an adult is an entirely different experience from what you remember as a child. Besides gaining knowledge that can help you advance your career, it’s also an excellent opportunity to meet new friends and grow your network.
