Whether you are just starting out in a new career, or you have been at a job for a number of years, if you arrived there following formal education, you might understandably think you're finished with school. You have worked hard, you now have something to show for it, and you are focused on putting to good use what you have learned. Even so, at some point in your adult working life you can, and likely will, gain substantially from taking continuing education courses.

Your return to education can reap a multitude of rewards, but any of these fall generally under three categories: personal growth; initiative display; and career progress. In any case, returning to classes should be viewed as an investment in yourself. As with any investment, action-planning will pay huge dividends. Consider these strategic approaches to continuing education as solid general guidelines for success.

Take Stock

It is important to construct your own paradigm for continuing education. What is it you are looking for at this moment in your life? Offerings vary in format, scope, content selection, cost, and a host of other variables. Adult learning can come from such one-offs as internet classes, YouTube videos, books, expert interviews, or other short-term sources; these may be resources aimed toward intellectual pursuits, task learning, or personal growth bits and pieces, which can be important for fulfilling personal goals. However informative they may be, these limited-scope tools can take you only so far. You may instead be seeking job advancement, specialty certification, licensing renewal, or a host of other career growth educational opportunities. For these significant milestones, you need to look toward colleges and other career-program institutions.

Choose Your Delivery Vehicle

Consider what format fits your schedule, lifestyle, and learning preferences. That is, would you prefer to take classes on-campus or online? There are advantages to each approach, but in the end, you may find one choice clearly works best for you. If you need to study around a busy schedule, note that some institutions offer online courses as an archived set, accessible any time to fit your schedule. Unfortunately, classes from some schools are offered online only in real-time, so be careful that your choice offers guaranteed flexibility from beginning to end. Taking courses online also saves commuting costs and hassles, and it makes it easier to plan for meals and other day-to-day practicalities.

Attending classes on campus can be a deeply human experience. You interact closely not only with classmates, but you can get more personal with your instructors. Not only are there more give-and-take learning opportunities, but you might discover chances to socialize outside of the classroom. One practical benefit to attending on-campus is that if you were to need last-minute supplies or an exchange of notes, you can easily get these.

Coordinate With Work

When you are ready to take this step, it pays to communicate with those who supervise and support you in your workplace. Point out your personal and career-growth goals and objectives; outline your educational action plan, and ask about the payoffs. Work together to create progress check-in points - that is, a place for both parties to provide and receive feedback. Finally, find out if your workplace offers financial incentives or aid for education.

Be Proactive About Your Learning

Since you are looking at continuing education, you have gone through the drill already. Value your work and life experiences as assets. However, be honest about what has and has not worked for you. It is likely you can improve upon your past approaches to learning in small or significant ways. To start, assess or reaffirm your learning style so that you use techniques that work for you, whether for note-taking, studying or project-completion. There are different accepted models, but VARK is the cornerstone, standing for Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing Preference, and Kinesthetic. Pay attention to the syllabus, noting expectations for readings, class discussions, papers, exams, and homework. Highlight instructor contact information, and reach out with any immediate questions.

Take Care of Yourself

Finally, make a plan for self-care and lifestyle management. Practice mindful stress-management techniques. Continue to exercise, or find time to start. Develop a consistent, nourishing meal-preparation routine for your increasingly full schedule. If you are a parent, determine who oversees sick children when you have a school deadline.

Above all, create a positive mindset or your return to school will be educational drudgery. With determination and a concrete action plan, you will take a step forward in your career through continuing education.