3 Ways to Get an Event Planning Certification as a Working Parent
From working a full-time job to raising your kids, it’s hard to find time for your social life without having to even think about getting a certification. But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean that you should just give up before you even begin! If you’re dreaming of a career as an event planner but can’t seem to find the time to obtain training or pursue your passion, you’re not alone.
The good news is that there are many schooling options out there designed with the working parent in mind. Imagine working towards a certification but having virtually no deadlines or exams! Sounds too good to be true, right? You just need to know where to look, and you can make your dream a reality. Here are our top tips on how to achieve your event planning certification while juggling your professional and personal life!
Managing your time
Nobody is denying how crazy it seems to want to throw earning a certification into the mix when you’re already working full time and are a full-time parent as well. If you’re serious about your career, however, you’ll need to find ways of working around your responsibilities in order to be successful!
You probably know the feeling of having to say no to attending all your kids’ school plays and soccer games. You’ve already made peace with the fact that sacrifices are unavoidable, but earning a certification may potentially—not always—mean that you might have to turn down some other opportunities as well.
It all comes down to maintaining a schedule. Carve out chunks of time to dedicate to your studies and stick to them! Family time cannot be scheduled as rigidly as studying time can, so make sure you actually do work when you say you will! Managing your family’s expectations is very important – they can’t expect you to be available all the time if you’re also working and studying. Make sure they’re not disappointed by being open about your career goals and how they may impact your family time.
Going online
You’ve probably never thought about taking your studies online, but it’s probably your best bet if having a flexible schedule is a necessity. Online courses allow you to complete your studies at your own pace and on your own terms! As an added bonus, online courses tend to be less expensive than brick and mortar schools, for the same education!
If you do your research, you’ll find that there are plenty of high-quality courses offered virtually. Look for courses that are in-depth and teach you how to thrive in the industry. Are they up to date with teaching you innovative and trustworthy event planning technologies? Do they have a mix of practical and theoretical assignments? If they offer business courses or units integrated into your course, they are going the extra mile to make sure you succeed.
If you need to re-read your course texts or re-do an assignment, you don’t have to rush yourself. You will have plenty more time to ensure that you’re actually learning and absorbing the material all within your own schedule!
Making time for yourself
Just as it’s important to make time for your family, it’s important to make time for yourself. Continuously working yourself to the ground can seem like you’re doing the right thing, but do you really think your output will be at 100% if you’re super stressed and only putting in half the effort? If you start to recognize the signs of burning out, it might be time for you to schedule in some R&R.
You don’t necessarily have to go for a massage or even take a long hot bath—each person has their own way of relaxing. It can be as simple as going for a run or getting the family together to cook a nice meal—just so long as you’re kicking your stress to the curb, you’re on the right track.
If you’ve decided to take an online course, it can be even easier to make time for yourself. You don’t have to beat yourself up if you skip a study session because your courses are self-paced.
The good news is most social opportunities can also turn into networking opportunities as well. If your friends are struggling with planning an anniversary party, it may be a good time to let them know that you’re starting/are in the middle of earning a certification and then give them some tips! Goodwill can go a long way!
