There are lots of reasons you might want to continue your studies, whether that’s to learn a new skill or language, to prepare yourself for a new career path or to work abroad, or in some cases, just for fun!

But the problem is when you’ve got an incurable case of wanderlust, staying in one place for school can feel like an impossible task. 

The good news is, thanks to technology and the power of the internet, it’s now possible to keep learning while you travel - so you get the best of both worlds. 

But how are you supposed to manage your studies when you’re catching flights, moving around, island hopping, or trying to study from a sun lounger on the beach?

Well, there are some handy tips you should take on board to help you learn online while you’re traveling. We’re going to look at these in the guide below. 

Make sure to pick something you’re passionate about 

Studying while you travel is all well and good, but if you choose a subject that you’re not really interested in or that you could fall out of love with quickly, keeping up with your studies is going to be really hard. 

Although it sounds obvious, it’s important that you choose a subject or course that you’re excited about. After all, your study sessions might be competing with wine tasting in Italy, boat rides in the Caribbean, or trekking the Inca Trail in Peru - so it has to be good. 

This will make studying feel much easier, but it also means you’ll be more inclined to stick to schedules and to find the time to study even while traveling. 

So whatever your reasons are for continuing your education, make sure they mean a lot to you. Considering your passion is crucial, and this applies to online programs as well. If MFT online programs align with your interests and goals, they can provide a meaningful and flexible way to pursue your education while exploring the world.

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Get your tech in order

Of course, one of the most important factors for studying when you are traveling is going to be having a reliable internet connection whenever you need one. It’s also important that you have access to all the technology you need to conduct your lessons and any assignments.

There are several ways to manage this. Before you set off, check what tech you’re going to need to complete your course and make sure you have a laptop, tablet, camera, headphones or whatever else you need to keep learning on the move.

Not only this, but you also need to make sure that you read the descriptions of any places you’re staying or visiting if you know you’re going to be studying while there. Carefully reading descriptions and reviews means you can find places that offer a strong Wi-Fi connection whenever you need one. 

You might also want to consider switching up your data plan on your mobile phone so that you can use your data for your studies. You can use your phone to hotspot your device if your current location does not offer Wi-Fi access. 

And make sure that you don’t leave for your travels or your accommodation without packing all the relevant chargers, adapters, and cables you might need along the way.

Plan your traveling and learning around one another 

You need to think carefully about when you learn best and then plan your study sessions and travel arrangements around one another. This is particularly important if you must complete and submit assignments, as you don’t want to attempt to do this work after a 12-hour flight and no sleep; the latter can be especially harmful, as it can quickly lead to symptomps such as fatigue, and even chronic sleep deprivation if such behavior persists. Some of our key suggestions would be: 

  • Taking quiet days out to stay at your accommodation and study
  • Making use of long flights or airport layovers to catch up on a bit of studying 
  • Making sure to set aside time to relax and have fun too 
  • Not organizing big trips or excursions for around the same time you have assignments, as either your learning or traveling will suffer as a result

This might mean that occasionally you have to delay a trip by a day or two or that you spend a few hours of your journey catching up on coursework. Whatever the can maybe, just remember this is supposed to be a fun experience, so don’t burn the candle at both ends. Otherwise, you could burn out and find you’re not enjoying your trip anymore. In such instances, considering travel technology services can help optimize your itinerary to better balance study and leisure activities.

Create a schedule

You might be one of those people who has a travel itinerary planned down to the finest detail, with all flights booked weeks in advance. Alternatively, you might be one of those people who prefer to go with the flow and embrace spontaneity. 

Whichever category you fit into, it’s important that you create a schedule for your learning and that you stick to it as best you can. This will ensure you don’t end up falling behind on coursework or assignments if you have them.

Take a notepad with you and be sure to write out a schedule for each week, working carefully around your travel plans. For example, if you know you’ve got a busy weekend of excursions coming up, set aside a day or two in the week to catch up on your studying.

The great thing about this is you can pick your own pace and set your own schedule whilst ensuring that your learning doesn’t suffer as a result.

Don’t forget about time zones 

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget about different time zones if you need to attend virtual classes or calls or if you have deadlines.

If your assignments have been set by someone in another country, make sure you meet the deadline in their local time, not your own. Similarly, if you set up a call with a tutor or peer, remember to share your current location and find a time that suits both of you. 

In some cases, if classes have already been set elsewhere, this might mean that you have to study at some unsociable hours. This is OK; just make sure you don’t forget that your classes are operating in another time zone. 

Otherwise, you could find yourself in hot water with tutors or falling behind on deadlines.