One minute, summer has just begun, and the next, you’re seeing ads on TV encouraging you to stock up on clothing and school supplies for your children.

In many ways, back to school time is all about new beginnings. Children have had the summer to relax and enjoy themselves, and now they’re ready to take on a new school year with new teachers, classmates and perhaps even a new school.

But back to school doesn’t just have to be about new beginnings for your children. What about you?

Maybe you’ve been thinking a lot lately about where your life is headed. Are you satisfied with your job and future possibilities? Maybe you feel like there are opportunities you’ve always wanted to pursue, but it never seemed like the right time.

And even if it were the right time, how would you even begin?

You’ve thought about going back to school yourself, but it never seemed like something you could actually do. Maybe there aren’t any schools near you, and, if there are, maybe they don’t offer any programs that interest you.

That’s where online learning at Argosy University Online Programs comes into play. When you peruse our list of programs, you’ll soon realize how many options you actually have, and that they offer the flexibility to fit your hectic lifestyle.

Stay tuned for our next blog post in the Back to School series, where we’ll help you determine which program is the best fit for you.

“I really want this degree, but I just don’t feel motivated to do my work.” That’s a fairly common way that your fellow students at Argosy University - Online Programs may feel at one time or another. It can be stifling; it can make you want to give up – after all, in order to absorb information and learn, you must be motivated. So now what?

“How do I become motivated?”
If you look at motivation like a puzzle, breaking it down into individual components, you can evaluate yourself and make changes where needed. “Motivation… a puzzle?” you ask. Yes, a puzzle with five pieces:

• Choice: Something made you decide to enroll in your degree program at Argosy University - Online Programs. Perhaps you decided to enroll because you have always had an interest in a certain profession, or perhaps it was because earning a degree could launch a new career for you – or help you to advance within your current career. Either way, there was a specific reason you made the choice to enroll in classes; in other words, a goal.
• Effort: Instead of sitting around, waiting for your goal to magically happen (because it won’t), put in a little bit of effort and take action to make your goal attainable.
• Persistence: Putting in a little bit of effort isn’t enough, so dig your heels is and be persistent. Keep working hard and stick with your tasks until you’re finished.
• Engagement: Think, and think very hard, about what you are doing. In other words, engage your tasks. If you are writing a paper, engage the topic by becoming immersed in the topic. Be committed.
• Achievement: You made a choice, you put in the effort, you were persistent and you engaged your work; therefore, you will have achieved an excellent final product and will be one step closer to your ultimate goal of earning your degree from Argosy University - Online Programs.

“I tried and it didn’t work.”
Not everything will always go as planned – that’s life. But that doesn’t mean you just give up. One bad grade is not the end of the world. Stay motivated; remember the choice you made to enroll in classes at Argosy University - Online Programs, put in the effort, engage your work and be persistent in all that you do. There will be some kind of achievement, and you will be that much closer to your goal – your degree!

Much of the country recently “sprung forward” into Daylight Savings Time, signaling that spring is near, soon to be followed by summer. The days are getting longer and we’ll get to see the sun more frequently. After a long, cold winter, this can be a welcome relief, but it also takes some time to adjust, particularly during the first few weeks after the change occurs. What’s the best way to adapt when what was once 10p.m. is now 9p.m.? Read the tips below.

Keep a Schedule – And Stick to It
If you’re accustomed to hitting the hay at 11p.m., for example, it can be tempting to stay up until 12a.m. following the time change, but resist the urge. You may find it difficult to fall asleep for the first few days – even weeks – following the time change, but most of us still need to wake up at a set time, which will come an hour earlier if you don’t make the decision to adjust your schedule.

Get Some Fresh Air
When you arrive at home after a long day of work and studying for your classes, you’ll notice that you have more daylight to work with. Take advantage of it! Use the extra hour of brightness to take a long walk, work in your garden, or play an outdoor sport. The extra light can improve your mood, and physical activity will keep you healthy and make it easier for you to get through the day.

Avoid Relying on Caffeine
It can be tempting to increase your usual morning cup of coffee to two or even three, or to grab that 20 oz of Coke from the vending machine at 3p.m., but these practices may actually work against you. Too much caffeine can make it difficult to fall asleep. Instead, drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and alert.

With the right strategy in place, you can make your “Spring Forward” transition a smooth one. Unless you’re planning on moving to Arizona or Hawaii (the two states that don’t observe Daylight Savings Time), you’ll need to do what you can to adjust.