by Jeremy Maready

Choosing to take a massage home-study course to further your education has its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, you don't have to fight for the classes you want or the times you desire. And with some research, you can get any instructor that best fits your learning style.

On the other hand, with this new freedom comes the drawbacks of not having a rigid class schedule--and life's common difficulties can often take center stage over your educational needs.

You are ultimately the one in charge of how and when you choose to study. In the end, the only person you are going to hurt is yourself and your professional development if your studies remain incomplete.

When and if those other things in life begin to get in the way of your studies, home-study courses can begin to seem more of a burden than relief.

Learning how to manage your time isn't difficult, but it is a skill that can be learned with self-discipline.

Time management will help you prioritize your daily responsibilities and make time work for you. It simplifies your self-discipline because you will always know what you should be doing and when. By laying out what you need to do each day, you will be able to easily find time to incorporate home-study classes into your schedule and,

This is the first of two articles that will provide helpful tips to enhance your time-management skills.

Time-management tips

• Create a short, daily to-do list, which lists all of your major tasks for the day. Cross off tasks as you accomplish them throughout the day. Then, move on to the next one until you've completed them all. This list should be a compilation of all your major tasks. Don't sweat the small stuff. Save that for last when you have some free time.
• Make your list the night before. At the end of each day, write your to-do list for the next day and then place it with your keys or purse, so you don't forget it.
• Don't deviate. Sure, other things are going to pop up in your life. But stick to this rigid schedule to accomplish your goals each day.
• When are you most attentive? This is the time of day you should schedule your studies. By studying at this time of day, you will gain a better understanding of the material and classes will seem less of a chore.
• Schedule the most difficult tasks. This way, you won't be dreading these at the end of the day.
• Break up large tasks into smaller ones to increase your organization and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Read more time-management tips in Part Two of this article series.

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