Balancing Going Back to School and Work

How to Balance Studying for Professional Development While Working

Sep 1, 2008

Going back to school as an adult can be very challenging. With some careful planning it can be a tremendous professional growth opportunity.

Many colleges and universities understand the needs of non-traditional learners and offer services and support for adults returning to school. With the support of the institution’s services, careful scheduling, support from family, friends and your employer, the transition back to school can be eased.

Scheduling Study Time

One of the toughest balancing acts is finding solid, uninterrupted study time if you have a demanding workload at work and family responsibilities at home. Designating set times for study will help others plan around your availability. If you find that mounting household chores such as laundry piling up or dishes to wash distract you from your studies, then go out to study. A local library, coffee shop or park (in nice weather) can help you focus.

Support from Family and Friends

Family and friends that understand how important your educational goals are to your professional growth can be a huge help. Their buy-in can help ease the guilt of not having as much time for them. Put up a note on your fridge stating your goal. Children that see their parents working hard to better themselves will benefit from the positive role modeling.

Support from an Employer

Hopefully your employer is supportive to your educational development and will allow you to study at work and/or take time off during exams and project deadlines. If not, plan your vacations wisely to ensure that you have a few days of vacation to take when needed. Some employers will reimburse the costs of your education – tuition, books, supplies, equipment. Check with your HR department to see if you can tap into professional development funds.

Using Work Projects as School Projects

If you are involved in a large project at work and it could be a potential subject of a paper or research project, you can save yourself a lot of time. Make sure you are not breaching your company’s non-disclosure agreement by including proprietary information. If you must include proprietary information, your professor may need to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Student Assistance Programs

Many colleges and universities offer phenomenal courses and workshops aimed to help adult students transition into an educational environment if you have been out of school for many years. Tap into student success workshops and services on:

Your decision to return to school as an adult is a brave one. Many people do not find the courage to step foot into a school after being away for years. Be proud that you have made this commitment and find the resources you need to succeed as an employee and student.

The copyright of the article Balancing Going Back to School and Work in Training/Professional Development is owned by Joni Rose. Permission to republish Balancing Going Back to School and Work in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.