Returning to school to continue your education or learn a new skill is a huge deal. It’s potentially life-changing and opens the door to new opportunities and advancement. Yet, life happens and not enough sleep or too much stress can cause you to struggle to follow through on your goals, no matter how inspired you may be.
So, how do you stay motivated when it feels like you’re hitting a wall? As a higher education professional and career coach who supports students, here are my tips on 5 ways to stay motivated as an adult learner so you can reach your goals.
1. Make Learning Relevant
You bring a wealth of experiences to your program. Your years of work and life experience have likely allowed you to pick up a variety of insights and real-world applications that relate to the skills you’re learning. Consider how you might be able to use your existing knowledge to help master a new skill or make using a new tool easier. Making these connections allows you to find value in your learning and determine how to incorporate new skills into your life as you prepare for the next step in your career.
2. Connect With Your Support System
Going back to school can be lonely, which is why you need people in your life to cheer you on and hold you accountable as you progress through your program. Consider contacting a fellow student and asking if they’d be interested in being study mates. Or find a mentor who can help you navigate the college environment or serve as a confidante when the demands of life and school become stressful. Mentors can be friends, supervisors, professors or other students who have or are working toward completing their program.
It’s also helpful to have people in your life who can lend a helping hand. Do you have family members who can prepare a meal while you’re studying? Do you have a friend who can watch or pick up your kids after school? Using your network as a resource ensures that you have the support to stay motivated during challenging times.
3. Break Tasks into Small Chunks
Do you have a big project and need help figuring out where to start? Try breaking the assignment into smaller chunks or tasks, so they’re more manageable.
For instance, if you have a group or team presentation, the first step would be to schedule a meeting with team members to discuss the project and divide tasks. Then, for each sub-task, set deadlines to hold yourselves accountable and estimate how long each task will take. Project management tools like Asana or Microsoft Teams are a great way to visually track your progress on smaller tasks and give you a sense of accomplishment. Not only will you improve efficiency and reduce stress, but you’ll also ensure you can accomplish your goals.
4. Celebrate Small Victories
You may feel like completing a degree, course or certificate will take forever, but it’s important to remember to celebrate the journey. Teresa Amabile, a Baker Foundation professor at Harvard Business School, coined “The Progress Principle,” highlighting how tracking small victories can boost confidence and help build momentum toward your end goal.
Celebrate small wins like cleaning the house, spending quality time with your family, finishing the first two weeks of your course or passing a quiz. Consider rewarding yourself with a small gift or an activity you enjoy for each accomplishment you make.
5. Identify Your Motivations
Returning to school is a considerable investment of your time and finances, so it’s important to identify your motivations and your short- and long-term goals. Before starting your program, create a detailed list of reasons for returning to school. Maybe you want to advance your career and increase your salary. Or perhaps you want to change careers altogether or explore a new interest. Clearly defining your reasons for completing your education can serve as an anchor point during times of difficulty and self-doubt.
Given the complexities of life, staying motivated as an adult learner can be challenging but possible. By using these tips as inspiration, you can refocus and restore your motivation.