Whiteboard

You don’t necessarily have to use a whiteboard, you can substitute this with phone apps or desktop calendars, but I personally found greater success with whiteboards and to this day I still have them in my office.

Write down your daily tasks as well as larger projects due later. If you have an exam coming up, put that on your board with a star reminding you to study for it.

The idea is to organize yourself and create a visualization that acts as a reminder. In addition to a whiteboard up on your wall (near a location you will work) you can utilize phone reminders to alert you for study time.

The trick is you have to actually listen to the reminder and immediately stop watching Netflix and go study.

Pace Yourself

This is a marathon not a race, if you are pursuing a 4-year-degree then don’t expect you can push 90 hour weeks for years or go to the point you have chronic back aches .You need time to take a break, recharge and come back stronger.

You will perform better in school if you learn to consistently pace yourself rather than occasional sprints of energy and work after periods of procrastination.

Remember Your Reason

During the times you are struggling, remember why you are pursuing this education and career in the first place. Is this meant to support your family and inshallah your child one day?

Is this meant to provide financial security for your home? Will this type of career field be pleasing to Allah (Most glorified and revered) thus a means to please Him and work for reward?

These reasons are your anchors giving you strength and hope when it seems difficult. Make a poster to hang in your room with inspirational quotes or pictures related to your reasons and goals.

Final Thoughts

It is important to examine your unique situation and determine what the best route is for you. Everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses as well as life situations that will determine which career and education suits them.

For some of us, we end up changing our degree path or decide to go back to school after we are an adult. No matter what your situation or motivation, you can achieve your career and school goals insha-Allah as long as you remain committed and always seek help from Allah (Swt).

First published: October 2018

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