Last updated 16:01, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

WHY do we feel so refreshed by a change of routine? Often, people’s holidays seem far more exhausting than a day at work – and yet they seem to thrive on the new, the adventurous and the change of scene.

Think of the background work which goes into planning a successful holiday – the research, the costings, the forward planning – the listing of pros and cons – the search for like-minded fellow travellers – analysis of the competition and weighing up of options – and finally, the decision in the form of a booking!

All of these parallel the decisions to be made when choosing when, where and what to study – or even at the outset, whether to start your learning journey. The decision process is even more significant as students are not seeking the experience of a lifetime, but rather, experience for a lifetime. Just as with holidays, it is worthwhile asking around for personal recommendations – and yet, this should not mean when a fresh opportunity presents itself, one which is less well known, that you don’t give it a try. The learning opportunities in the county are increasing every year – from 14-19 Diplomas to postgraduate qualifications – and someone has to be the first to a new destination!

Just as Cumbria has long been a favourite holiday destination for those seeking to benefit from the richness and quality of the landscape, there is now the chance to benefit from this increasingly rich educational scene. Don’t assume the offers are just for “visitors from elsewhere”; think about how you and yours might benefit from these opportunities.

Look at the landscape afresh – and consider where you are in relation to where you would like to be. Take every opportunity to seek guidance from professionals at every stage – and be prepared to think yourself into new situations.

Cumbria’s geography, while a draw for tourists, can be a disadvantage for residents – and access to learning has been no exception. The University of Cumbria has a remit to tackle this, and indeed with technology, it will soon be possible to do much of your learning on-line. Don’t, however, plan for a solitary journey – take every opportunity to meet up with fellow students and tutors to enrich your experience – in a virtual or even a real landscape!

It is also worth remembering that even if you decide to focus on getting just one new skill, this often nurtures more transferable skills – for example in decision making, reacting to unknowns or making the best of circumstances beyond one’s control. Employers value these skills, just as they value the communication and people-skills often honed outside the workplace, in our leisure time. In struggling to achieve a work-life balance we sometimes compartmentalise our life artificially and view our “work-self” as different to our “free-self”.

Perhaps we should reflect again on how a new approach to learning might help us achieve more satisfaction at work and in our leisure time, and give us greater confidence and capacity to take on new challenges in all aspects of our lives.