After beginning a new job a few months ago and navigating a challenging personal situation shortly after, my enthusiasm for taking courses waned. I found myself entirely focused on meeting the demands of each day. But I recently realized that I was missing the challenge and joy that learning brings me. I am ready to recommit, and I'd love to share my game plan with you so that you can join me. After all, we are entering a new season with autumn slowly approaching in the Western hemisphere, which means more time at home and more opportunities for purposeful screen time.

Financing courses

Like many of you, I work full-time, and some of the courses I want to pursue align with my job's requirements. For these courses, I feel comfortable discussing budget allowances with my employer. Additionally, I plan to request an hour each week during work hours to dedicate to the course, which is an additional investment for my employer.

For courses related to my personal interests, I'm covering the costs myself. I always keep an eye out for scholarships to help bridge the financial gap. I find platforms like Udemy particularly useful for their affordability and quality. If you're a solo worker, such as a freelancer or solopreneur, ensure you allocate an annual budget to reinvest in yourself and remain competitive in your field.

Finding time

I've mentioned this other posts too, but it bears repeating: scheduling dedicated study time is essential. If you plan to fit learning into random moments of your day or week, you'll likely find those moments do not exist. If your employer sponsors a course, discuss which day is suitable for setting aside time for study. Personally, I prefer Friday mornings, but choose a time that aligns with your schedule and maybe even your chronotype (your natural daily energy rhythm).

For personal interests, try to dedicate small chunks of time outside working hours or block longer periods (one or two hours) on the weekends. Spending just 10-15 minutes drawing in the morning has been perfect for me, satisfying my desire to learn and practice without overwhelming my schedule. I still schedule these sessions, understanding that I may miss some. The goal is consistency, not perfection.

Key to this time-blocking strategy is updating your calendar throughout the day. This practice allows you to reflect on your week, make necessary adjustments, and gain insights into optimizing your time, especially when adding intensive activities like learning.

Understanding why

It's essential to be clear about why you want to learn a new skill and precisely what you want to learn. This clarity can significantly impact your learning experience. If you'd like more detailed guidance on this, I cover it in this post.

Once you make a decision, commit to it. Adjust the pace as needed, but unless the course is a complete mismatch, stick with it until the end. You'll be glad you did.

I'm personally committing to my first course, Writing With Flair: How To Become An Exceptional Writer with Shani Raja (I review it in more detail in this post). I know it will benefit my role as an editor at a magazine. My fun course will focus on drawing, an area I'd like to explore further.

If you're still unsure about the value of lifelong learning, consider the recently published Future of Jobs Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum (WEF). It reveals that "six in 10 workers will require training before 2027, but only half of workers have access to adequate training opportunities today." Gift that opportunity to yourself. The time to upskill, and recommit, is now.

Stay inspired. Keep inspiring.