Road trips are a blast, but they can also be complicated, especially with kids in tow. Unless you’re flying by the seat of your pants (so to speak), you’ll have to set an itinerary, work out the details of how long it’ll take to get from one place to the next, and, of course, budget and save for the whole thing.
Budgeting can be the most difficult part of planning — a fact that became even more true in 2020, with fluctuating prices, limited options, and safety factors all put into play by the pandemic.
There’s a lot to juggle when you’re budgeting for a vacation, but it’s far from impossible, and you don’t need to let money concerns spoil your fun. When planning for your road trip, take the following steps to make sure it’s a success — and not a source of financial stress.
1. Save up ahead of time
If you’ve got a tight household budget, you may not have much wiggle room — unless you’ve got a vacation savings plan built in. Which you should.
Set aside a little each month to save up for your road trip. It’s impossible to know exactly how much it’ll cost far in advance (especially with gas prices fluctuating and the cost of accommodations in flux). But you can map out a general budget, then set aside a little extra in case of emergencies.
When you leave will likely depend on how much you save, so if you’ve set a specific target date (or scheduled your vacation with the boss), you’ll have to be diligent about sticking to your pre-trip budget. Otherwise, you might have to shorten your trip, pick a different route, or, worse, wait ‘til next year.
2. Map out your route
How much you budget (and spend) will depend at least in part on where you plan to go. Road trips are great because they can cost less than buying an airline ticket, and you can see a lot of things you’d just be flying over otherwise.
Many of the most eye-catching and beautiful sights are visible from the side of the road, or with a short detour. There are many scenic highways from which to choose, all across the country, with plenty of opportunities for “oohs” and “ahs” and making photographic memories.
Take your camera (or camera phone) and be on the lookout for breathtaking overlooks from mountain roads, historic bridges with majestic arches — even in this U.S., some are nearly a century old — timeless forests, or gigantic rock formations.
3. Give your vehicle a checkup
The last thing you and your budget need on a road trip is to have your car break down, so make sure its service record is up to date before you go.
Check the tread on your tires (you can use a coin to see where you stand) and replace them if any are too bare. Also, get an oil change and/or a tuneup — even if you aren’t quite due yet. You don’t want to have the oil light go on halfway through an extended trip and make you interrupt your fun with a few hours at a service station.
Take along an automotive tool kit, just in case you run into trouble despite your preparations. While you’re at it, make sure your car insurance is up to date and covers everything you need it to cover. Also, having a roadside assistance plan isn’t a bad idea for long trips.
4. Have a credit cushion
No matter how carefully you plan, something can always go wrong. Be prepared to roll with Murphy’s Law by making sure you’ve got enough credit to handle the unexpected. You may even have credit problems, but don’t let that stop you from taking your trip.
You can secure a fixed amount of credit on a card by depositing a few hundred dollars in an account to cover emergency expenses, if need be. With this kind of card, your deposit amount will be your credit limit, so you can’t go over. It’s another form of budgeting that helps you build your credit as you go.
5. Stock up before you drive off
Taking your own supplies on the road became a common practice during the pandemic. Disinfectant wipes, masks, and hand sanitizer became must-have supplies. It’s also become routine to stock up on food, water, and other essentials before departing — since the fewer stops you make, the less likely you are to come into contact with someone who has the virus.
Even as conditions improve and restrictions are lifting, these are good habits to maintain. Grabbing granola bars, water, soft drinks, snacks, and essential items before you leave will save you time and money: It’s a lot cheaper at your home grocery store than at a convenience store along the way.
6. Look for deals on gas, lodging
Discounts are always worth pursuing, regardless of your budget. Why pay more than you have to? There are plenty of tools to help with that. Download an app to find the cheapest gas and qualify for deals, or grab a loyalty discount card from a chain you trust.
Hotels offer preferred-customer deals, too. Some travel apps give you a free night after you’ve reserved 10 nights through their service, and hotel chains offer similar deals for repeat customers.
Budgeting for a road trip doesn’t have to be a headache. Just the opposite: It can save you headaches down the road. If you know how to find deals, prevent trouble, and put yourself in good financial shape ahead of time, there’s no reason your road trip can’t be full of awesomeness.
That is the mantra I’ve been repeating to myself for the last few days. The results?
Today I got a $20 bill and a check for $1.62 in the mail. Small? Sure. But it’s just the tip of the iceberg for the money that will flow into my life in the next few days.
Yesterday I got $99 to do a job.
Two days ago I got $13 for a product order. I also got another large order for my Blyss Body Butter product totaling $249 plus shipping.
Your life will go in the direction of your words so make your words work for you. Use Mantras!
Why have I been attracting or manifesting this money? Because I set my intention by repeating my mantra . It’s not rocket science (though I did work for NASA for five years) but it is about belief.
Will I manifest more money? I’m certain of it because I believe and I’m adding action to my belief.
The amounts I’ve attracted are just the tip of the iceberg. They are just the beginning of bigger money manifestations.
Can Mantras Manifest Other Things?
Can this work with other things? What about jobs? relationships? health? I believe it can work with all these things.
Our mind, body, and spirit are connected. What we feel in one of them is felt in all of them. They are one, just as the Trinity or Godhead are one. What one believes the others agree with so we must be mindful of what we speak and how we feel.
Our mind, body, and spirit are connected. What we feel in one of them is felt in all of them. They are one, just as the Trinity or Godhead are one.
I speak my mantras out loud. They are little prayers. Not for God to be convinced but for me; my mind, body, and spirit to be convinced and fall in line with God’s plan, favor, and blessings.
My Mantras Manifested a Man!
I believe I manifested my sweetheart. He did not show up until I believed there was someone out there especially for me. When I repeated my mantra prayers I set the intention and opened my heart. I put it “out there” that I was ready to receive all the love my heart could hold.
I put it “out there” that I was ready to receive all the love my heart could hold.
He walked into my life shortly afterwards. Interestingly enough, we didn’t start dating until two years later so that goes to show the power of your prayers, your intention, or your mantras.
When you believe your words become life. Whether you are completely ready for it or not.
The truth is we manifest things everyday. They can be positive like, “Money flows into my life effortlessly” or they can be negative like, “I never get a good parking spot”.
We get what we say we want and what we feel we deserve. It doesn’t matter how often you think about using mantras. You are using them every single day. Your words are little prayers and God, the universe, and your body hears them. They respond and conspire to make your mantras manifest or your prayers answered.
This post is getting long but I wanted to share the power of your words to bring your desires to reality. There is nothing woo woo about it. It’s all about perception and framing your experiences and beliefs.
I hope you will think more about what you are manifesting by your words. I hope you will re-frame your words and shape them into more positive experiences in the coming year.
How to Manifest Money with Mantras and Affirmations
Want to start using mantras and affirmations like I do to manifest money? Don’t know what words to use? Fortunately, I created a list of mantras and affirmations you can use to get started on this money manifesting journey. Download it here for free now.
Are you looking for part-time weekend jobs in your area? Indeed, millions of Americans are looking to make a little extra money by working on the weekends. They might need to supplement their income, keep themselves busy on weekends, among other reasons. Or, perhaps it’s a student who needs to earn a little extra money to help pay student loans. Fortunately, whatever the reason, there are many jobs you can do during the weekend.
What to Know about Seeking Part-Time Weekend Jobs
Weekend jobs are available for people that need to make a little part-time money on the side. Additionally, the rise of “work from home” options, remote work, and freelance gigs have created a broad range of opportunities for people who want to concentrate on their work during the weekend.
Nevertheless, these opportunities require a variety of education and skill levels. For example, many of these weekend jobs come with “no degree” requirements. And others require specific education. Regardless, if you’re looking for weekend job opportunities, there will undoubtedly be something for you on this list.
Let’s get started!
14. Freelance Writer/Editor
If you’re a freelance writer or editor, you can work part-time and make money. As a freelance writer, you can create content for websites, compose written material like business reports, direct marketing pieces, and featured articles.
A freelance editor also proofreads writing, corrects grammar, and modifies the copy, enhancing readability. The best thing about taking these jobs is that, in many instances, the work can get done during the weekends.
Freelance writers can earn upwards of $1 a word and more if they have specialized education (I.e., RN’s, MDs, Lawyers, etc.). Moreover, editors can earn upwards of $45/hr. However, one’s earning potential depends on the skills, deadline, and the type of work you do.
Most businesses want to represent their products and services they offer to the public via the internet. Web designers create web pages by creating and publishing content. And, they incorporate video and graphics into websites.
Getting hired as a web designer requires a knowledge of web authoring tools, writing, and other technical skills. Some freelance designers will partner with graphic designers and writers to complete their projects.
As a part-time web designer, most of the jobs can get completed over the weekend. Lastly, web designers can regularly expect to make upwards of $35 per hour.
Graphic designers play crucial roles in creating visual aspects of brochures, web pages, logos, advertisements, packaging, presentations, and reports. Also, Graphic designers translate client ideas into visual design. Designers need to possess aesthetic sensibility, creative abilities, and expertise to work with desktop design programs.
Graphic designers earn, on average, $29.55 per hour. However, rates will vary on factors such as the complexity of the job, and to a lesser degree, education. Regardless, working as a part-time freelance graphic designer on the weekend could be a huge opportunity to make money.
11. Tax Preparer
Many organizations will hire trained seasonal workers to help their clients in preparing tax returns. Often, the best time for customers who need tax assistance is on the weekend.
Folks looking to work as tax preparers, part-time and on the weekends, need only to get certified. And many online tax prep schools exist to fill the gap.
Tax preparers interview clients and obtain information about their income and expenses. And, for complex tax issues, you can always consult senior staff. If you work as a tax preparer on the weekend, you can earn an average hourly wage of $21 during the tax season.
10. Rideshare Driving
Those who have a late model car and personality can drive for rideshare services such as Lyft and Uber. These services enable drivers to work as much or as little as they want, especially during the weekends.
An advantage of working on the weekends is that customers need rides following outings for entertainment, shopping, theatres, restaurants, and bars.
So, many drivers have taken this opportunity to work for multiple services, which has helped them expand their making money opportunities.
However, if you want to take this opportunity during the weekend, you must be an excellent driver. You may use your car, which should be in good working condition, or ask for your friends’ car. Rideshare drivers can make over $10 an hour, depending on the day.
9. eBay/Amazon Seller
Online e-commerce platforms have created opportunities for many people. Amazon and eBay offer a venue for sellers to promote their products. While products get sold 24×7 on these platforms, these part-time weekend jobs are an opportunity for sellers to conduct their business. However, e-commerce sellers should always be ready to reply to customers within 24 hours.
Additionally, packaging, uploading listings, and mailing orders can get done on the weekend. Amazon and eBay will keep 10% to 15% for the procedure from sales.
Amazon and eBay sellers can make thousands a year, while some even over ten million dollars in a year. However, as is the norm, the more you work, the more you make. And don’t forget there are season peaks for online sales that correspond to the holiday shopping season.
8. Wedding Photographer/Videographer
Those with good camera skills and a flair for editing photographs (and videos) have an excellent opportunity to expand their reach. As weddings tend to take place during the weekend, wedding photographers/videographers can work part-time, while honing their skills.
Wedding photographers also have the opportunity to earn big money on the weekends. For example, some charge $2,000+ depending on the client or wedding needs.
7. Wedding Musician or DJ
If photography isn’t for you, consider becoming a wedding musician or DJ. As most weddings (and other parties) get held on weekends, it offers those looking for a part-time job an opportunity to make some good money.
Those who have the skills to play the role of a DJ or a musician can undoubtedly take advantage of the opportunity. However, DJs’/musicians need to remember to play the music that will satisfy the guests–otherwise, they risk not getting referrals. A wedding DJ’s can expect to make upwards of $1,495 for playing music, not bad!
Golf courses tend to be busiest on weekends, and therein lies an opportunity for those looking for a part-time job as a golf caddy, especially during the summer season.
Before anyone can work as a golf caddy, they need to know the equipment and approach different holes. Also, physical stamina is required as caddies usually walk the courses with the golf clubs.
Golf caddies earn anywhere between $20 – $50/hr depending on the course level, golfer, and tips received.
5. Healthcare Workers
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus, health care workers are in big demand. For example, there is a tremendous demand for nurses, especially per diem nurses. These nurses are needed to work on the weekend to supplement regular staff.
Registered nurses follow treatment plans, treat wounds, administer medications and monitor patients’ health status.
For the DIY crowd with ninja-like repair skills, handy people (man/woman) can earn some good money. Since many people lack time to learn simple repair skills, handy people can fill this need, part-time and on the weekends. A handy person might get tasked with installing a light fixture, minor carpentry, repairing drywall, light plumbing work, or painting.
The best handy people can charge upwards of $50/hr. However, they’d get best advised always to try and please the customer as best as possible. This way, they’ll stay busy with referrals.
3. Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives (CSRs) communicate with customers online or by phone to answer their questions and solve problems. CSRs also educate consumers regarding the effective use of their clients’ products or services. For instance, technical support workers solve software, computer, or hardware-related problems.
Before taking this weekend job, CSRs should be patient and possess strong listening abilities, problem-solving skills, and verbal communication.
Considering CSR’s can usually work from home, they can often perform these jobs on a part-time basis and on the weekends.
2. Retail Sales Rep.
The weekend is the time that people shop when they are off work. As a result, stores in various sectors will hire part-time people, on the weekend. Retail sales reps require strong customer service skills, and attention to detail will go a long way.
Additionally, as more shoppers enter the store, the more the products get sold. As a result, there’s also a demand for people to restock the shelves.
Retail sales reps earn about $12+ an hour. Statistics also show that in a typical (non-pandemic) year, there are nearly 10 million retail jobs, which means it’s an excellent opportunity to earn an income.
1. Bartenders
Bars are often busiest on the weekends.
Weekend events such as weddings, birthday parties, etc., provide weekend based opportunities. In 2018, there were 644,000 bartender jobs in America. And once the pandemic is over, there’s no doubt the situation will improve.
Bartenders require the skills and knowledge to mix drinks while having good listening abilities, a lively personality, and quality customer service skills.
Bartenders also earn most of their income from tips. So, in terms of compensation, some can earn up to $500 a night.
The Bottom Line on Part-Time Weekend Jobs
As you have seen, these are among the best part-time weekend jobs you can start right away. If supplementing your weekly income is important, consider a position where you can use your skills and knowledge to make some extra money.
Whether you’ve been single for years or you’re newly single, the holidays can create a bit of anxiety and even some depression in a lot of us. Although this is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”, many of us may be feeling it’s the worst. The holidays mean lots of pictures of ridiculously happy families and seemingly perfect couples. So, what’s a girl to do when it’s the holidays and she’s got no one to meet underneath the mistletoe? Here are a few tips for thriving through the holidays no matter how long it’s been since you’ve become a party of one.
Recognize that everything isn’t as it seems. You may see them looking “picture perfect” on social media, but that does not mean their life matches the pictures. Remember that people tend to post only the highlights of their lives, and just as they have good moments, they also have bad ones that you don’t know about. The grass ISN’T greener on the other side. Your life ISN’T all bad simply because you are single.
It’s perfectly okay to feel sad or disappointed that you’re alone during the holidays, even if this isn’t the first time. Let no one tell you that you should just “deal with it” or “get over it”. Feel your feelings, but don’t stay there. Cry if you must. Scream if you must. Cuddle up with your most favorite junk food while you binge watch your favorite show if you must. But once you’ve done what you need to do in order to get those feelings out, get up and smile. Do something that makes you happy. Be patient with yourself. Show yourself a little extra TLC. You don’t have to deny or ignore your feelings, in fact, you should embrace them. The trick, however, is to not allow them to consume you.
Protect your peace by any means necessary. You know the holidays are coming, so, do your best to prepare for them. If you know your family is notorious for playing 21 Questions when it comes to your dating life and it bothers you, decide whether or not answering their questions is beneficial to your mental health. Yes, they are your family and you love them and they love you, but if answering their questions is a reminder to you of where you are and that’s going to leave you feeling “less than”, you need to get your response together.
You get to decide if your response is a “scripted” answer you will give to any family member you know is prone to asking personal questions or deciding that you will not continue answering questions you don’t feel comfortable answering. It may seem extreme, but you have to do what works best for you. Taking a break from social media may also be needed if you find yourself feeling more depressed after seeing all the nice pictures and families online. Take the time to read some books or check out some comedy shows or going full on “unplugged” and not using your phone at all for a few hours a day.
Take time to show gratitude for the things you DO have. As cliche as it might sound, taking time to show gratitude really does work. Let me be clear though in saying that practicing gratitude does not guarantee you will not feel down about your current situation, and as stated, those feelings should be embraced. It does, however, mean that you will begin to see that singleness isn’t a curse. Being in a relationship or marriage isn’t the end all, be all. There is so much more to your life than your relationship status. Your worth does NOT diminish just because you are alone, despite what society would have you believe.
Do something nice for someone else. Volunteer at a shelter (make sure to follow all the guidelines in place to keep you safe from COVID-19), buy a nice gift for someone you know isn’t expecting anything(it doesn’t have to be anything expensive. It’s the thought that counts), cook a special dish for an elderly family member just because, etc. Doing nice things for others really will help you to take your mind off your situation and you’ll be blessed in the process of blessing someone else. Everyone wins!
Know that material things aren’t what the holidays are about. I know that we all want to buy nice things for our kids and maybe you don’t have the money to get everything you’d like to. Please, please, please don’t beat yourself up about it. You show love to them, you clothe them, you feed them, etc, that is so much more important than gifts under a tree. It’s not about the money you spend, it’s about the time you get to spend with your family. As the saying goes, money can’t buy happiness and while I am sure you’d agree that it would definitely help, know that it isn’t everything. Your kids are blessed to have you as their mom and that in itself is a wonderful gift.
It’s the age old tale, boy meets girl, they fall in love and get married, have a couple of kids, get divorced and move on with other people.
Okay, okay, that isn’t really the way we were told things would go, but the reality is, that’s the way things went for many of us.
None of us really got married thinking the person we married was anything other than “the one”. None of us really expected that who we vowed to spend forever with wouldn’t actually be a part of our forever.
And what in the world are we supposed to do when we finally get back into these dating streets and meet someone new? How are we ever to determine when we should introduce our new partner or potential partner to our kids? How are we to know when the time is “right”?
We don’t want to upset our kids. We don’t want to have people saying bad things about us.
The Bright Side
The thing to remember though, is no when or how you decide to introduce this new person in your life to the people you love and care about, especially your kids, you run the risk of upsetting your kids and having people say not so nice things about you and/or your choices.
However, another possible outcome to that is, your kids could meet, take to, and build a genuine connection with the new man in your life instantly and the people around you could be genuinely happy for and supportive of you and your decision to move on with someone new.
The truth is, no one can make the decision of when to introduce your new man to your kids for you but you and you need only listen to your heart. You see, no matter what other people feel or what they have to say, the decision is ultimately up to you.
I will, however, give you a few things to think about when trying to make the determination of when the time is right.
Live YOUR Life
Please know that despite what you may have heard or read, it is absolutely fine and actually pretty healthy for your kids to see you dating and happy.
Know that no one controls your life or your happiness, but you. Also know that it’s absolutely okay to casually date and also to introduce a guy you’re casually dating to your kids.
You don’t have to divulge any more information to your kids or anyone else that you don’t feel comfortable with. You can introduce the guy you’re casually dating as a friend (if you guys are just casually dating that IS essentially what he is right?) or… not. It’s totally up to you.
YOU determine what goes on in your life and if you think your kids are old enough, mature enough, or whatever enough to let them know that the guy you’ve introduced them to is someone you’re only casually dating, then do that!
If you feel it best to only introduce a man you’re dating to your kids if you’re dating exclusively then do that! Listen to your heart, your gut and you will not go wrong.
The “right” time is when YOU feel it’s “right” and THAT is what’s most important.
If you are a mom like me you loved the time with your child. The playing, the little dance parties, you ingest it in every inch of you and crave it more than chocolate. Then a divorce happens and a court puts you on a diet of this amazing experience.
So how do you deal with this sudden change in your life? How do you go without or at least less of what you once had whenever you felt like walking in their room? It’s hard at first but you will find that it will make you a better parent when your time does come again.
For me it was crying for days then I realized I had to use this time for him and for me. Here is my plan:
Give Every Weekend a Theme
While the goal should always be to make a better home for them and for you-both within and outside yourself, feel free to target it down to a more specific theme. Personally I am focusing on financial agendas and preparing to be the financial and emotional caregiver my child needs. I also use the time to apply to more teaching and writing jobs as well as responding to opportunities.
For you it could be making a cleaner home or even cleaner eating. Be there for you by preparing for them and their future.
Keep a “I can do it then list”
You know those “Oh yeah” moments when you remember things you need to do? Well now it can be done then..I literally have on my phone a list just for this time. It’s all the things that isn’t urgent but would really be great if it was done already. This can be calling a family member or talking to a financial advisor now that you are only 1 for 1 so to speak.
This will not only fill up the time but space out the time you have for your child and allow you to focus on them when it’s your time with them without feeling stressed that there is so much to do. Put everything on it-even things you have put off before the divorce.
Get Back Into Your Passions
Take this time to evolve your passions-some you have to admit were ignored while you lovingly heard “Mommy!” on a daily basis. For me, I started writing again (enter this column) and began to watch Project Runway and doing the challenges. I also started looking into restarting yoga which I did weekly back when I interned at the White House and miss.
This will allow you to fill in the gap so to speak with a bit of you and even give you something to talk about with your child when they come back. In fact, I have a new children’s book idea as a result of talking to my kid about things I am writing about.
Use the time to Research how to be a better mommy
From organization to better eating for us and our new home, I have finally allowed myself time to get into the pile of magazines that were pushed away for Legos. I also reviewed the home equipment I had and asked family to donate tools and other items I knew I was going to prospectively need in the future.
This may be a given (better mommy) but it also allows you to reconnect with your child even while he’s not there. I get to look at his artwork while I figure out a filing system for it. My son and I are trying new foods together and we got ourselves a crock pot recently. You should also do some research about yourself too. I recently finally went to a cholesterol specialist-never had time for that and now that I am a single mommy, my health needs to return to priority.
The bottom line: take the time for you and for them to be enriched and readied for the future. Of course tears will come and for me they still come to this day, but when you wash your face—get back to work.
Heather Piedmont
Heather is a Politico turned special needs single mom who just started journaling her path for other single mom’s. She lives in NYC with the greatest kid ever.
Self-directed learning is the best approach to life-long attainment of knowledge. If you’re considering it to traditional learning methods, this article gives an excellent overview of the processes it entails to encourage the best results in learning.
Imagine a situation where you’re an average student, and the opportunities accorded to you cannot change your situation. Do you throw in the towel and declare education a no-go zone for you, or do you try to learn about things that can potentially change your situation or others for the better? Unfortunately, not everyone realizes that they have the power to change their futures.
On the flip side, though, the power lies within us all to learn about things that would change our situations and the environment around us for the better. Self-directed learning is the process through which individuals push themselves to realize their needs in learning with or without others’ help.
They will then develop their own learning goals while identifying materials that can aid them throughout the learning process. In today’s’ world, where technology is rapidly taking over, there is a need to continually re-skill and learn about new ways of doing things. It is essential to re-learn things we previously knew and discover them deeper.
When you develop self-directed learning strategies to change a situation where you need to learn new skills, you put yourself ahead of those who only rely on traditional learning methods. Today’s world is set up in a way where self-directed learning skills are necessary, but essential to career, social, and even self-development.
In a world where self-directed learning activities are encouraged, and learning tools are many, it makes sense that one takes advantage of all the self-directed learning methods available. Any student who wants to succeed in their learning experience should have a self-directed learning plan that’ll help them bridge gaps that they’re facing in their journey to attaining knowledge.
We must encourage this type of learning for all learners. Here are a few tips on how to do it.
Determine the Willingness to Learn
Self-directed learning challenges exist. A student will find self-directed learning much easier if they can get self-directed learning examples and conduct a thorough assessment of various factors. These include their attitude, skills, habits, and even their support network and how these factors will contribute towards their success in self-directed learning.
Before students engage in self-development, they must look at any past experiences they’ve had in the past with self-learning. This will play a huge role in developing self-directed strategies that’ll allow them to have a constructive process.
Some of the most important aspects or skills to evaluate for a student include their organization, self-discipline, experience with self-directed learning, and how well they take constructive criticism. A student looking to engage in self-directed learning is encouraged to embrace being autonomous and practice excellent communication.
Identifying Self-directed Learning Objectives
While encouraging a student to take up self-directional learning, the student must learn how to communicate effectively. This is a necessary skill to learn as they’ll have to develop a relationship with an instructor. When communication skills come into play in self-directed learning, both sides have to understand what expectations are required.
The instructor supervising the student should have a clear view of the self-directed learning goals the student has. Likewise, the student must have access to the contractor’s self-directed learning contract. Understanding each other ensures that both parties are privy to what is expected from each one of them.
Learn More About Yourself and the Process
There are many self-directed learning benefits a student will reap if they understand their needs for self-directed learning. As learners, one must understand the gaps they need to fill and how their approach to self-directed learning will help them fill these needs.
Self-directed learning requires the student’s total transformation because they’re required to learn new ideas and understand them on their own. Self-directed learning will require more in-depth knowledge than traditional education, where a student is only required to learn what is taught to them to complete a course.
In self-directed learning, a student is required to motivate themselves and dig deeper into their studying to bridge their gaps. It is, therefore, essential to develop an in-depth approach to self-directed learning.
Evaluate the Learning Process
In self-directed learning, students must learn to self-evaluate and self-reflect continually. This is to assess their progress and how their learning goals are coming along during self-directed learning. Some of the processes students of self-directed learning will need to engage in include:
– Regular consultation and assessments with their instructor while implementing feedback received.
– Reflection of the aspects learned during the self-directed learning process and evaluating the essential questions concerning the learning process.
Share and Apply What You’ve Learnt
There’s no point in self-directed learning if you’re going to hoard what you’ve learned and kept it to yourself. The best way to learn something more profound is to teach it. It’s therefore essential that after you’ve learned and finished your unit, you share the information you’ve gained with your mentors and peers.
Sharing what you learn in self-directed learning is essential, as it’ll help you discover other aspects you hadn’t thought of. Ultimately, you’ll create something positive for you and your community or environment out of your self-directed learning experience.
Once you start to practice the things you’ve learned on your self-directed learning journey, you can now create opportunities for yourself that never existed before.
Conclusion
Self-directed learning isn’t an experience or process for faint-hearted students. It’s a journey that requires patience, a strong will, a willingness to learn, self-motivation, and strategies that’ll get you to where your goals are.
It would be best if you valued the progress you’re making over performance. Self-directed learning is a life-long process that one can’t accomplish if they value performance overdevelopment or in-depth knowledge.
Have you considered self-directed learning as an alternative method of learning? If you have, what has been your experience? How did you overcome the challenges that come with self-directed learning? Tell us your experiences in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.
Author’s Bio:
Sherry is a consultant and been involved in many successful projects with a range of companies throughout the country. She enjoys researching, discussing, and writing on the topics of relationships on the best dating sites 2020, when not absorbed in the latest gripping articles. Sherry loves cooking, doing sports, and otherwise spends far much time at the computer.
Hi! Welcome to RichSingleMomma.com. I started this website almost a decade ago because I couldn't find any blogs back then that helped single moms with money. I was having some success in that area so I decided to share what I knew about side hustles, making extra money, and managing money. Read more...
