In today's times, most working professionals tend to be multi-taskers. It's a world where 'upskilling' has taken priority. The same goes for working professionals like teachers. Teacher upskilling has become essential for career growth today.
As such, as a teacher you may find yourself juggling between school work, family life, and the additional task of upskilling. If you're looking to upskill, you may prefer diploma programmes that last an average duration of one year. However, once you start pursuing a 1-year diploma course, balancing work and studies can become a challenge.
Read this blog till the end to learn tips and strategies for balancing work and study while pursuing your 1 year diploma course. Let’s begin by understanding:
As a school teacher, picture your regular day. Is it something like this?
“getting up in the morning, managing your house chores, going to school, then taking classes, commuting to your home, grading school work, creating lesson plans for the next day and then finishing the remaining house chores!!”
Now, when you add a 1 year diploma course to this, the day almost feels jam-packed. Some of the common challenges you might face would be:
- Time management
- Lack of motivation
- Stress
- Chances of burning out
- Poor performance in work or study or maybe both
Let’s take a step back now.
Remember why you wanted to pursue a teacher diploma course in the first place. Was it to improve your skills? Was it to grow in your career? Was it to keep learning?
But will you achieve your goals if you keep facing the above challenges? It is hardly possible to do so.
Therefore, learning how to balance your work and studies is absolutely crucial. Here’s how it can benefit you:
1. Better Application of Your Learning
Pursuing diploma courses for teacher training while working can help you develop new skills and even better, apply it in your classroom. It can help you gain a deeper understanding of your subject area. Overall, this makes you an effective teacher leading to better student performance.
2. Personal and Professional Growth
Balancing your work and study can feel incredibly rewarding. Knowing you are rocking in the classroom and your studies will significantly boost your confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, upskilling can improve your chances of promotion and career advancement. As you develop new skills and gain knowledge, you become a more valuable asset to your school, and your career prospects improve.
3. Access New Career Opportunities
Programmes like 1 year diploma courses will open up new opportunities for you due to your enhanced skill set. This means fast growth and even opportunities for leadership roles.
(Bonus: Read these amazing tips to manage your work-life balance while pursuing 1 year diploma courses here.)
Striking a balance between work and studies can be difficult, but you must ensure that you succeed in both areas. Here are some smart tips to help you:
1. Set Realistic Goals
Before starting your course, set realistic goals that you can achieve. This will help you stay motivated and focused. Make a to-do list of your everyday tasks and prioritise them based on their importance.
2. Create a Study Schedule
It involves studying for a few hours each day or studying for long hours at a go. You could also experiment with weekly study plans. Every weekend, create a plan for the upcoming week, allocating time for each subject you must study. Choose a plan that works best for your lifestyle.
3. Use Your Free Time Effectively
You can use your free time to study instead of wasting it on activities that won't benefit you. For example, you could study during weekends or while commuting to work.
4. Take Advantage of Technology
Many applications and online tools can help you stay organised and focused. Use these tools to set reminders, track progress, and manage your time effectively. For instance, a simple tool like Google Calendar can track your schedule, daily tasks and reminders.
5. Seek Support from Family and Friends
Managing everything alone can get lonely. Inform your family and friends about your course and the importance of your studies. They can support you and help you stay motivated when things get tough.
6. Take Breaks
It is essential to take breaks to avoid burnout. Take breaks regularly and do activities you enjoy, such as reading a book or spending time with your family. Remember that your mental health and well-being are crucial for balancing work and studies. (Recommended: Watch this video to learn how you can manage mental health while pursuing teacher diploma courses.)
Now, let’s look at some ultimate strategies for successfully balancing work and studies while pursuing your 1 year diploma course:
1. Create a Designated Study Space
Set up a room at home or school. Having a dedicated space can help you stay focused and minimise distractions.
2. Attend Virtual Classes or Recorded Lectures
Many diploma courses now offer virtual classes or recorded lectures that you can access online. This can be helpful if you need to attend a class outside your regular work hours.
3. Join a Support Network
Ever felt like you are the only one finding things difficult? Well, not anymore. You would be happy to know that there are online teacher communities where you will find fellow teachers in the same boat as you. Feel free to reach out to them for support or help.
4. Take Advantage of Online Resources
There are many online resources available for teachers, including study guides, practice quizzes, and interactive tools. Take advantage of these resources to help you prepare for exams or assignments.
5. Celebrate Your Progress
Remember to keep being kind to yourself while you are on this journey. We often tend to overlook small wins and keep focusing just on the end goal. Celebrate your small victories and stay positive throughout!
Finding a perfect work-study balance while pursuing a 1 year diploma course can be demanding, but it is achievable with proper planning and organisation. Remember that this journey is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. It requires consistent effort and perseverance over an extended period of time. Creating practical study plans, using your time productively and following healthy lifestyle tips will help you achieve your goals and come out on the winning side.
Need additional guidance and support? Book a 20-minute call with a Suraasa Mentor and get personalised guidance! Our team of experts will be right by your side as you confidently pursue your 1 year diploma course.
