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Very understandable! After being out of school for a while, you may need to build up your “student muscles” before you feel comfortable in that role again. Give yourself time to do this: it won’t happen overnight. You may want to review some tested study-and-learning strategies; try them out to see what works for you (and don’t give up if they don’t work the first time!). You might also want to connect with other students in your classes to share challenges and ideas for solutions — chances are many other students are looking for support and ideas as well. If you'd like support with writing, take advantage of Northwestern’s . For quantitative support, try SPS's . Also, keep in mind that time pressure and time management are often the core issues, so see below for ideas on organizing your time as a returning student.

You can start by reflecting on which tasks and projects are the highest priority. One strategy that can be helpful is to schedule out all of your tasks for a set period of time (e.g., looking at one week, one month, or one quarter), making sure to block off the non-negotiables first. Over the course of the week, consider whether the time you anticipated spending on various tasks is accurate, and note any necessary adjustments to establish a baseline for your schedule. Often, we underestimate how long it takes us to complete certain tasks, or we forget to include transition time between events.

Below are some additional ideas for managing longer-term projects and assignments:

• Break down your project into more manageable chunks, which will enable you to take things one step at a time.  

• Examine your work environment: Where do you work best, and under what conditions? Are you in a space that’s conducive to working and minimizing distractions? How is the lighting and noise in your space?
• Think about when you're studying, and how alert and productive you feel. If you're studying in the evenings and finding it hard to engage, can you adjust your schedule to find time earlier in the day? A car commute might be a good time to listen to a lecture, or a train commute might be a good opportunity to review notes. If you find yourself regularly scrambling to finish assignments just ahead of class, though, it might be time to rethink your schedule.
• Consider setting boundaries to protect your time. Perhaps there are times within your schedule that are currently underutilized, or recurring events that you can step back from in order to save that space for your studies. Sometimes this means learning to say “no” without guilt to optional projects or events — which is not easy but can bring more balance in the long run.

• Make use of tested time-management techniques.
• Still unsure where to start? Reach out to ASLA and we can talk through a more personalized plan.

Especially if you haven’t taken course notes in a while, it may be difficult to know what’s best to jot down in class, in order to feel more prepared later. Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of your notes:

• Preview, View, Review: Use the syllabus and solid notetaking techniques to practice previewing content, taking effective notes while you read, and then reviewing the concepts later on.
• Check Your Understanding: As you work through your notes, consider after every sub-topic or at a regular time interval whether or not you are understanding the material. Identify points of confusion and write down specific questions in your notes that you can take to an instructor’s office hours. These metacognitive techniques can help you identify earlier on when you don’t understand and can also help you regulate your attention in class lectures. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, however, so explore your options.  
• Utilize Resources Other Than Your Notes: While reviewing notes and the textbook are both helpful for studying, they are not the only (or even the most effective) methods for each class and situation. “Studying” is a broad term, and not all studying techniques and strategies are equally effective for everyone. Allow yourself some grace to figure out what methods are most productive for you. Keep in mind that your previous routines may no longer serve you well, and that adjustment to new study methods can take some time. If you’re looking for a place to start exploring some options, ASLA offers a variety of other resources and suggested strategies for success.  

There are always added challenges to a hybrid or remote learning environment. Consider adapting your approaches with remote learning strategies to get the most out of your online courses.

It can be particularly challenging to feel connected to classmates when your class is entirely online, especially if it’s asynchronous. Often, many students want to connect, but nobody takes the initiative. Try reaching out to classmates to see if others want to collaborate, bounce ideas off one another, or perhaps create a study group. This can promote a sense of community, and enables everyone to utilize one another as resources and accountability partners for the course.

Communicating with faculty is one of your best tools for ensuring your own course success. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your instructors about the challenges you are experiencing. If you’re feeling unsure about the best ways to connect with faculty, read through our suggestions to see what might work best for you.

You are not alone in your academic journey! The School of Professional Studies offers for supporting academic and professional development, and your academic adviser is someone who is already in your corner and an excellent resource for discussing concerns. You also can consult other campus resources, including support for stress management and wellness, disability and accommodation-related resources, and advocacy around social identities and building community.

Looking for a low-stakes conversation to get started? You can always reach out to meet with an ASLA staff member to discuss general study practices or get connected to appropriate resources at Northwestern.