How to Make Time for a Psychology Course
When You Work Full-Time
Image Source: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
Upskilling and changing your career path can seem impossible when you work full-time to support your family. The only way to learn a new skill and earn a degree is by setting time aside for it, but you also don’t have much spare time. While there’s no denying that full-time employment can make it harder to achieve your goals, you can make time for a psychology course in these ways:
Study Online
Technology has made achieving our educational goals much easier than ever before. Rather than attend in-person classes on campuses to absorb new learning materials, we can now take psychology courses online in the comfort of our own homes.
You still learn the same information, but you can fit study around your work and life commitments rather than the other way around. You can also avoid commuting, meaning you don’t need to live near a university or college to change your career path.
Set a Study Schedule
Most online psychology courses involving psychotherapy and other areas require you to dedicate a set number of hours to study each week to keep you on track for graduating on time. Working full-time can mean you might be concerned about having enough time to balance study and work.
While challenging, setting a study schedule might make it easier to meet your educational facility’s time requirements. This might involve dedicating commute time, work breaks, and free time after work to study while still giving yourself time to socialize and spend time with loved ones to reduce stress.
Split Up Your Study Sessions
In an ideal world, you’d be able to dedicate at least a few hours per day to study in a single block of time. However, that’s not always possible when you’re working an average 40-hour week. You may need to take advantage of every spare opportunity you get for study, like commuting on the bus or train to and from work, on your breaks, and once you’ve had dinner in the evenings.
These small study sessions can all add up, meaning you can often achieve as much in multiple study sessions as you would in fewer, longer ones.
Communicate With Your Employer
You might have happily worked overtime or stayed late in the past, but studying toward a psychology degree can mean that’s not always possible. Communicate with your employer about your new commitments rather than burn yourself out trying to maintain the same schedule. Being upfront about your study goals might also mean they’ll be more understanding about taking time off or sometimes working shorter days when assignments are due.
Delegate Tasks
As competent as you are, you can’t do everything. You can’t work a full-time job, take care of your family, run errands, and study without being at risk of burnout. Don’t let it get to that point before you take action. Instead, choose to delegate tasks and reduce your load.
If you have a spouse, you’ll surely be able to share some of your household tasks with them. You might also rely on babysitters and family members to help care for children. If chores are falling by the wayside, consider hiring a house cleaner or ask a friend or family member for help. The more support you have, the more free time you’ll have to dedicate to studying.
Seek Help
When you’re your household’s breadwinner and responsible for ensuring your family unit runs like a well-oiled machine, taking on study won’t always seem like a good idea. You already have so much on your plate; more obligations might add to your stress.
However, you don’t have to do everything yourself. Talk to your family and friends about your study goals and life obligations to see if they would help you. The more people you rely on, the more time you can have to read psychology study materials and prepare yourself for your new degree.
Look After Yourself
You might have very little free time to study toward a graduate diploma in psychology, but that doesn’t mean you should burn yourself out trying to achieve your study goals. Prioritize self-care to feel healthier and happier while you study. Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and make time for relaxation. You might then feel like you’re in a better head space to balance work, study, and life.
Making time for a psychology course when you work full-time can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Make time for yourself, ask for help, and complete your course online. You might then be on your way to achieving your study goals before long.
