You might know that upskilling in your industry is one of the best ways to advance your career and enjoy new job opportunities. However, it can feel like an impossible task when you work full-time and have very little spare time. As challenging as it can be to make time for study, it doesn’t have to be as tricky as you believe it will be. Sometimes, you just have to take these actions:
Look for Flexible Programs
Upskilling in your job doesn’t have to require a traditional college setting with in-person full-time classes. This is especially true if you’re in healthcare. You can find MSN to FNP programs online with varying start dates to suit your life obligations and a part-time online format for convenience.
Some in-person study may be required for many online programs, but most educational providers know how busy the average person can be. As a result, they try to include as many online elements as possible for flexibility.
Use Your Commute Time
Obtaining more knowledge can require reading materials and absorbing as much information as possible. However, written materials aren’t the only way to learn. You can use your commute time to listen to podcasts by experts in your chosen field.
Commuting to work doesn’t have to be wasted time, whether you’re in a car, on a bus, or on a train. You can listen to something helpful to and from work without cutting into your work time or spare time.
Work On Your Time Management
It can sometimes feel like you lack time for upskilling. In reality, you might just not use your time wisely. Write down all your daily obligations, including those you need for self-care. Next to the tasks, write down how long they take.
You’ll then have an idea of how much spare time you have each day and can put a plan in place for study. Even just an hour a day for studying might be all it takes to help you upskill in your chosen area.
Ask for Help
Life obligations can be a major factor for people choosing not to upskill. From running errands and taking care of the kids to cleaning the house and cooking dinner, there can be a lot on your plate. However, those tasks don’t have to be yours to do alone.
Ask friends and family for help, or enlist the services of professionals like housekeepers to ease your load. The more you’re able to delegate to other people, the more free time you might have for study.
Use Pockets of Time
Not everyone has multiple hours of spare time up their sleeves. Fortunately, you don’t always need large blocks of time to learn a new skill or achieve a qualification. Use any micro pockets of time you have available throughout the day. Four 15-minute study sessions are equivalent to one one-hour study session, even if it doesn’t feel like it. You can still achieve the same amount but in a different daily format to make life easier.
Upskilling when you lack free time is undoubtedly more challenging than having all the free time in the world. However, that’s not to say it can’t be done. Seek online educational programs, use your time wisely, and share the load. You might then enjoy learning new information that broadens your future career prospects.
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