How to Upskill From Home As a New Parent
As a new parent, you probably feel like you’re already working a full-time job. You may even look forward to returning to work or study- but jumping back into that world after even a short time away takes some adjustment. Upskilling from home while juggling parenthood isn’t always easy, but the good news is, you have the perfect motivation- a little person looking up to you!
Why upskill as a new parent?
Every individual will have their own reasons, but there are many benefits to seeking a new professional or educational path or upskilling in your current career. One of those reasons is simply because of the potential for higher pay. There’s no shame in seeking a larger salary- especially now that you have an extra mouth to feed.
Another motivator is getting out of the house and gaining a new sense of individuality. You probably love your family more than anything, but it is nice to put on real pants and talk to adults about things other than nappies and Paw Patrol. At work, you aren’t just a parent- you’re you. Having an identity outside of your children will be beneficial for everyone.
What kind of skills can you learn as a new parent?
So you’ve decided you’re ready to upskill, but upskilling can mean a number of things. It’s important that you choose something that will realistically fit into your life. Flexibility is one essential factor. When you’re working or studying from home, a fussy baby may need to be prioritised over lectures and conferences. It’s also important to choose something that is interesting to you but won’t be too difficult or have too few job prospects. Many people looking to upskill from home choose to study an online MBA program due to its versatility and flexibility. A Master of Business Administration isn’t just about business- the skills learned in an MBA can come in handy in almost every aspect of life and will give you an advantage in any number of careers.
Juggling studying and parenthood
The daunting prospect of juggling parenthood and other responsibilities with study leads many people to choose to study online rather than in-person. Online study means that you can choose your own study hours, so you can squeeze in some revision during naptime, or listen to a lecture while tidying the house. Most universities will also offer the option to study either full-time or part-time, so if you can’t squeeze hours of schoolwork into each day, part-time online study may be your preference.
Being able to choose your own hours means that you can focus on the baby during awake times, and if you’re co-parenting with a partner, you can switch off when the other parent is home. It’s also a great idea to work out a routine. Not only will this give baby structure and scheduled sleep times, but it will also give you delegated time each day to focus on your education.
Online study doesn’t mean you won’t be socialising with your peers. Online university courses provide discussion forums and other means of connecting with staff and other students. You may find solidarity in other new parents who are also studying from home. Even if your classmates aren’t in the same boat as you, you’ll find common interests. You already have one thing in common- the subject of your university course!
New parents are already pretty great at adapting- after all, you’ve adapted to a new person moving into your home and taking up a large portion of your home. Studying right now may seem daunting, but you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve. Studying might mean working from your phone while wearing your baby, or staying up a little later to finish an assignment before the due date. But remember that this time will be temporary. Eventually, your studying days will be behind you and you’ll feel some well-deserved pride in what you managed to do. In the meantime, take advantage of the benefits offered to students, whether that means access to your university mental health counsellor or admittance to use the university library.
Don’t forget to take breaks. It’s hard enough to get enough sleep when you are a new parent, and sleep may increase in scarcity when you add studying on top of that. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and ask your professors for extensions or allowances if you need to rest. Take power naps when possible, and if possible, have your partner take over a lot of the childcare on weekends. Be kind to yourself- you’re juggling a lot! Both parenthood and studying are a huge amount of pressure. Throw any expectations out the window.
Don’t hesitate to ask for an extension on an assignment just to spend some precious time with your baby. They’ll only be this young once.
Other ways to upskill
Committing to formal study isn’t for everyone, and it might not be right for this time in your life. You may want to keep your mind sharp and prepare yourself for work without engaging in traditional education, and that’s great too! There are plenty of other ways you can learn new skills, and these tips can also help you keep your mind active if you plan to enrol in education at some point in the future.
- Read. Read books about any subject you’d like to learn more about. Business, entrepreneurship, healthcare, teaching, finance, mental health, butterflies- anything.
- Listen to podcasts. There are so many podcasts out there, and you can find one about almost anything.
- If you’re planning to go back to your current workplace after parental leave, keep in touch with them and continue to access any opportunities they offer to employees.
- Teach yourself new skills. You may want to learn how to use new software, write a smashing report, or draw a photorealistic dog. You don’t need to complete a formal course to learn something new!
- Try a free online course.
- Attend virtual lectures, webinars and TED talks.