(And Why Re-learning How To Learn Is Harder Than Ever)

I’ve been officially a student for the past six weeks. Yes, you read that right. I’ve been quietly counting the days, trying to blend this new hat into my current wardrobe – the one I’ve been wearing for, oops… almost 25 years.

Why this matters to me

I’ve always seen myself as a lifelong learner. I genuinely enjoy learning new things. Books, podcasts, TED Talks. Online courses. Certification programs. New hobbies – from ceramics to sirtaki, from a 70s pop choir to thai‑box and home gardening.

Learning has never been a problem for me. What I didn’t expect was this: stepping back into structured learning after years of working would challenge me this much.

When learning meets real life

To make it work, I had to reshuffle everything. I wake up at 05:45 to avoid traffic. Even then, I spend at least three hours a day commuting. By the time I get home, I’m tired. Very tired. Even worse, I realized I don’t know how to nap. Turning the computer back on at 20:30 for another three hours of lectures was not easy.

In the first two weeks, I found myself yawning half the time and struggling to follow what was being explained. And it wasn’t just the live lectures. There were recordings I thought I needed to listen again – but never could. Extra sessions and Q&A. Recommended readings. Notes. Platforms.

That’s when I started asking myself a simple question: Why does being a student feel so hard now? Why does re‑learning how to learn feels harder than attending a training as an employee — or learning a new hobby?

From scarcity to overflow

When I was a student before, resources were limited – and in a strange way, that helped. I learned by listening to the teacher and writing in my notebook. Attendance mattered. I didn’t need to “catch up” later. When I studied, I used my notes and maybe one textbook. There weren’t endless alternatives. No content overload.

In high school and university, I was lucky. Many courses focused on writing, reasoning, and applying logic. Open‑book exams. Coding. Essays. Yes, there was memorization too — but somehow, it felt simpler. Today, learning looks very different.

We have:

• recordings,
• hundreds of slides,
• emails,
• learning platforms,
• MS Teams,
• Moodle,
• WhatsApp groups.

Life comes in between

When I was a student before, I was lucky to be just a student. I didn’t have other roles competing for my time. Now, I’m a full‑time employee, a daughter, an aunt, a friend — and part time counselor, coach, and mentor. And I haven’t even listed the responsibilities I have toward myself.

Staying mentally well. Managing my energy. Trying to stay curious and hopeful in a world that feels louder, faster, and more uncertain every day. News. Crises. Prices. Traffic. Screens. Notifications. All of this runs in the background.

Learning today is not just about time management. It’s also about emotional capacity. Some days, the real question is: Do I have enough mental space today to be a student?

The loss of classroom rituals

I miss the old rituals of learning. Writing on the blackboard as a small kid. Coming home and rewriting the same content in my notebook — twice written, already learned.

Sitting in an amphitheater. The teacher just a few meters away. Turning to a classmate to ask a quick question. Pens, pencils, notebooks, a school bag.

Even exams felt different. I liked taking them in the same classroom. I believed I remembered better there.

The bell ringing. Walking into the room. Picking a seat. Shared presence. Committed time.

Today, after already spending eight hours in front of a screen, sitting for three more hours in front of the same computer is a real challenge.

Navigating digital learning

In the past, I focused mainly on what I was learning.

Now, I also have to manage how I learn:

• filtering content,
• prioritizing materials,
• deciding what to watch and what to skip,
• building my own structure from scattered inputs.

And now, there are AI tools as well. AI transcription. Chatting with an AI companion. Even virtual assistants the school built for us to support learning and exam preparation.

These tools are helpful. They save time, summarize content, and support learning. But they also add another layer to navigate.

Learning today is no longer just about studying. Hybrid learning, I’ve realized, is not a shortcut. It’s a new discipline — one that requires structure, energy, and compassion for yourself.

Becoming a student again — emotionally

Becoming a student again also brought back unexpected memories. I remembered the teenage girl trying to fit in and belong, and at the same time trying not to be noticed – afraid of being judged or not accepted. On a full scholarship, in a very expensive school. The emotional ups and downs of adolescence.

And then I realized something else: my identity had to shift. From a high‑performing student for many years… to a highly experienced professional… back to being a learner.

That meant accepting vulnerability again. Not knowing. Asking questions. Feeling insecure at times.

And of course, balancing work, life, and study meant fewer free evenings. Fewer weekday dinners, plays and concerts.

When understanding comes later

Maybe my mind is not as fresh and open as it once was. Maybe I got used to challenging ideas before accepting them. I feel like it takes me more time now to absorb new information and for things to really sink in. Sometimes, in the moment, it doesn’t make sense — and that scares me a little.

But then, after a while, it does. And when it does, it feels really good.

Lately, during some lectures, I notice something else happening. I start feeling more energized and inspired. I find myself taking notes not just about the lecture, but about what else I want to explore, research, and write about.

Deep inside, I wish for longer days – 30 hours long, at least – so I could give a bit more time to this new field.

With AI, every day brings something new — and that curiosity is slowly finding its way back.

Closing thought

Maybe being a student hasn’t become harder because we forgot how to learn. Maybe it’s harder because we are learning while carrying the full weight of adult life. And maybe re‑learning how to learn is not about pushing harder — but about learning differently, and more gently, this time.

Published on Linkedin.