Why Do People Shy Away From Further Study?
Upon graduating from post-secondary education, many students look forward to throwing away their study materials and entering the workforce in earnest. They believe they’ve learned everything they need to know about their chosen field and can now enjoy a long and fruitful career.
That’s certainly true in many situations. However, further study can be of great value to most people. Those in industries that see frequent changes can also enhance their skills and become specialists in their field by exploring other study opportunities. However, many people shy away from extra education, often for these reasons:
The Cost
Studying at a college or other educational institution can be expensive. It’s not uncommon for the average person to rack up student loans in the tens of thousands of dollars. Simply put, further education isn’t financially feasible for many people.
However, not all upskilling opportunities are expensive or even cost money at all. For example, mental health professionals might enjoy cost-effective continuing education units since some institutes offer free CEUs for social workers. You might also be eligible for grants and sponsorships that make some educational courses and programs affordable or free.
Work-Life Balance
Many workers are starting to understand the importance of work-life balance for mental health and wellness. By making self-care a core part of your daily life, you may reduce the risk of burnout and feelings of overwhelm.
This can be a common reason why some people don’t prioritize extra study. They don’t always want to give up their free time for more work when they already spend much of their week in their place of business.
This is a valid reason, but time management skills can often help people have the best of both worlds. Set time aside for leisure time and study, and you may comfortably achieve that desired work-life balance.
Negative Experiences
Not everyone has had a good experience in educational settings. After experiencing stress and frustration getting your degree, you might associate education in general with these feelings. However, some educational providers go out of their way to make studying a positive experience. You might be more inclined to consider study programs and courses if they are online, easy to access, and achievable at a pace that reflects your busy lifestyle.
Workforce Saturation
Personal and professional development are always excellent reasons to upskill and learn more about your chosen career path. Even if your current work doesn’t see you actively involved in what you’re learning, it’s often helpful knowledge to have for the future.
However, some people believe that enrolling in further study isn’t worthwhile because their industry or specific workplace has workforce saturation. This can mean there isn’t any room for promotion, and study can be a waste of time. That might be the case now, but perhaps not in the future. Expanding your knowledge is rarely wasteful.
Further study is a personal choice, and there’s nothing wrong with choosing not to study for the reasons above. However, it’s helpful to know that any new information you learn about your industry has the potential to be beneficial. If you’re not using it in your current work, you may rely on it for jobs and industry changes in the future.