When you’ve been out of study for a few years – or decades, even – getting back into the swing of things can feel challenging and even frustrating. As a student you develop certain habits that make it easier to focus, and of course you also have less demands on your time and can make studying the primary concern. You’re also in a position in life to accept being told what to do, having gotten used to this from being in school for the majority of your life. Without this background, study can be a little harder but it’s certainly not impossible. There are a number of things adult learners can do to make it easier on themselves.

1. Take on only what you can handle. Undertaking formal study or learning of any kind can be a huge commitment, and one that you need to be realistic about. Don’t stretch yourself to thinly, instead look for courses that offer a tailored learning solution that works with your current schedule.
2. Take rest time as well. Between study and life, you may find yourself struggling to catch your breath. It’s extremely important to make sure you do so however, or you’ll find both areas beginning to suffer. Sometimes it can just be a matter of taking an hour or so and going for a walk, or just sitting with coffee and a magazine – some activity that demands absolutely nothing from you. Try to schedule this in, and don’t allow yourself to think about the other things you need to do.
3. Provide a learning space for yourself. A quiet, focused environment is essential for successful learning. If you can’t get an entire room to yourself, a desk or chair in a secluded corner is a good compromise. However there will always be cases where even this isn’t possible, so it can be a good idea to go and find somewhere elsewhere to work such as a public library. These always have spaces available, and if you live near a university campus the libraries there are even more hushed and peaceful.
4. Take your time. It isn’t a race, and the fact that you’ve begun at all is a huge victory.

Getting back into study as an adult can be difficult, and requires more effort to make sure you as a person are in the right frame of mind and situation to be able to learn.