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Most of the students who are involved in online education are doing so because they need the flexibility that is afforded by this delivery mechanism. Whether work responsibilities, family responsibilities, or both are part of your need for flexibility, it is important to understand that it won’t be easy adding an online program into your life. However, with some extra planning, a realization that everything won’t be the same while you are taking classes, and concentrating on the reward of completing your classes/programs, it can be a very rewarding experience.
1. Identify specific times when you will be able to study.
Just because you don’t have to attend an on-campus class, doesn’t mean that it will take less time to do the work for the class.
2. Don’t forget about the other responsibilities that you have.
While you may need to adjust the amount of time you spend on your other responsibilities, typically you cannot abandon them completely. Be realistic in knowing that you will need to cut back, but be selective in how you do this.
3. Be sure to have support from your family, friends, employer, etc.
It is hard enough adding a college program into your already busy life. If you are fighting about it with important people in your life, it only makes it worse.
4. Don’t forget about yourself.
YOU are your main responsibility. If you do not take care of yourself (physically, emotionally, mentally, etc.), you will find yourself falling into all of the various pitfalls that you have been trying to avoid.
5. Let go of some things that are not necessities.
People tend to fill their lives with a variety of different activities over the years. As you bring education back into your life, remember that you may need to eliminate some other activities. Perhaps some of your club and volunteer activities need to be postponed for a couple of years. Is there someone in your family who can help with some of the things you do around the house or in the yard? Are there people at work who can take on some of the extra projects instead of all of them falling on you? Ask yourself what is absolutely necessary and then eliminate some of the other things.
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