Taking the plunge into higher education studies can be daunting, especially if you’re already juggling an existing career and a busy social life. However, working towards the career you want doesn’t mean that you must sacrifice your weekly activities with friends or family.
Pharmaceutical training requires plenty of dedication, but there’s no need to burn yourself out. Downtime is an essential part of study because it allows students to celebrate achievements, discuss challenges, and restore energy reserves. Happy and motivated students are able to strike a positive work/life balance, and eventually graduate with excellent results.
The ability to juggle both competing sets of commitments will also serve students well when they enter the workplace. Let’s focus on a few key considerations to help you develop the right balance between work and play.
Manage Your Time Effectively and Make the Most of Study Periods
Discipline is so important when you’re trying to strike a study/life balance at pharmaceutical training college. Draw up a detailed schedule for each day and week so that you can keep track of your progress in individual modules.
This schedule should also include specific hourly periods, or individual days, where study is absent. If you stick closely to it, then there will be ample time to take part in non-study activities. As well as drawing up hard-copy schedules for your room or study area, you could also set reminders on your phone to revise or work on an assignment at a particular time of the day. Don’t allow technology to become a distraction during study time, however. Keep your phone out of reach to resist the urge to continuously check social media.
Maintain a Healthy Mind and Body During Your Pharmaceutical Studies
Our bodies and minds get tired every day as energy levels dwindle, but there are ways to boost our reserves. As well as food and rest, staying fit is a great way to stay alert for longer during studies, which is why exercise shouldn’t be sacrificed after starting a diploma program.
Exercise boosts physical fitness and also allows the mind to momentarily divert its attention away from coursework. Its benefits have also been the subject of extensive research, and one such study by the University of British Columbia found that regular exercise boosts memory and thinking skills.
Prioritize Your Social Activities While Studying at Pharmaceutical Training College
Study does, of course, require a lot of dedication, and there are some activities which may have to be sidelined. Saying ‘no’ is an important part of striking the study/life balance. Don’t feel under pressure to take up every invitation for a night out with friends, as much as you would like to. You might also be asked by a family member to help organize a social event, but your loved ones will respect the fact that you need that time to study pharmaceutical technology.
Focus on One Task at a Time to Generate Better Results
Multi-tasking is commonly seen as a positive skill in the workplace, but it can be detrimental during studies. Research suggests that we are natural mono-taskers, and are better served by focusing on one thing at a time.
This means that pharmaceutical students would be better served by focusing their energy specifically on one module or task during a given period, with efficiency improving as a result. Don’t try and mix work and play together either, because your studies will suffer. Set realistic goals for each of your modules and try to meet them on a daily or weekly basis.
Enjoy a fascinating course of study by enrolling in a pharmaceutical manufacturing diploma program.
Find out more by contacting Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology.