You’ve made the decision to go back to school to further your education and learn new skills. Your life is dramatically changing. It’s a very exciting time in your life. You know you’ve made the right decision, but now you’re becoming anxious and irritable, at times even depressed. Your life is getting even more stressful! What do you do now?
The trick to fighting back-to-school anxiety is preparation. Dr. Dan Jolivet, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Vice President of Clinical Services with Magellan Behavioral Health, makes these suggestions:
Focus on your goals. Remind yourself why you are going back to school; for example, a better job, more money, etc.
Remember that you’re not alone. Remind yourself that other “non-traditional students” have made it through this and that it’s normal to be a little anxious or fearful.
Preparing to get back into the mode of studying, taking tests, and completing assignments within a prescribed period of time requires getting your mindset into place, so that you can begin with a successful attitude and the right frame of mind, according to the article, “Preparing for Going Back to School - At Any Age," at articles.tips.net/Preparing_for_Going_Back_to_School.shtml.
If you are taking classes to get a promotion or to change jobs, it is going to be very important to get the most out of your studies and the best possible grades you can. Making time to study is going to be very important, especially if you are just starting back to school. Whatever time of day or night you pick to study, whether in the morning or evening or when you are on a break from work, try to make it the same time every day and get in the habit of reviewing materials, which can mean better grades.
It’s true that distance learning has special challenges, but you can succeed. Do better learning by staying focused and on track following the simple tips below from “7 Success Strategies for Distance Learners,” by Randall Shirley at www.WorldWideLearn.com/education-articles/distance-learning-success.htm.
Set goals.
Establish a regular study/learning schedule. Make sure you’re learning, not just racing through materials.
Talk about it. Tell people what you’re doing.
Join a study group. Join a club, get a mentor, or search the Internet for bulletin boards or chat rooms related to your studies.
Know your learning style and use it. Look for real-world situations and examples of what you’re learning about and put your studies into practice.
Celebrate successes! Reward yourself and be proud of your accomplishments.
Ask questions. If you don’t understand, always ASK.
Remember: It’s not about memorizing – it’s about learning and developing skills that will help you, not only in your career but in your life as well. For more information visit www.PennFosterGlobal.com.