Getting back into education

Whether you’ve had a summer of fun or you’re changing careers, following these tips will make getting back into education a little easier.

Ease into routine 

Going back to classes after a long time off can be a shock to the system. 

Use the few weeks before starting a course to implement productive habits to make the transition easier. 

We’re not saying you need to wake up every day at 6am, but you could try and wake up an hour earlier than usual to make those early mornings a little less painful.

Find the right revision techniques

If you’ve been out of education for a while, the world of mind maps and flashcards may seem a little daunting.

Depending on whether you’re a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner, there are many effective techniques you can master.

The Pomodoro technique breaks down your study sessions into 25 minute chunks – called ‘pomodoros’ – with five minute breaks in-between.

After four pomodoros, you take a longer break. It is a great way to stop procrastination and make long study session less intimidating.

A good way to get your media law key terms down is by using active recall.

By using flashcards with the key term on one side and definition on the other, you can test yourself and say the words out loud.

This strengthens your long-term memory and will ensure you won’t forget these important things throughout your career.

We also thought you’d like this article about changing careers into journalism.

Find new places to study

Sometimes it is hard to motivate yourself to study for data journalism and public affairs exams when getting back into education. 

Finding a nice new café or coworking space to study in can work as a good motivation to get out and start on your work.

Update your portfolio

You could spend some time perfecting your portfolio and filling it with all the journalism you’ve done over the summer.

You could do some freelance writing and build up some bylines to start the academic year off with.

 

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Consume the news

Although studies stop in summer, the news cycle doesn’t. 

Make sure you’re staying in the loop with the biggest stories of the day. 

You could set aside 15 minutes a day to check the front pages of the nationals. 

A big part of being a great journalist is by consuming all types of journalism, even types you wouldn’t usually.

A great way to see how diverse the media you’re consuming is by downloading Ground News.

This is an online news aggregator that tells you the political leanings of articles and publications.

It is a great way to find out your blind spots and know what type of news you need to engage with more.

Set some achievable goals 

Reflect on your professional achievements and what you want your next steps to be. 

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