Make Time for Learning

Making time for learning can feel hard, especially when your days are already full of competing priorities. If finding time for professional development feels hard, or if you’re not sure where to begin, you’re not alone.

Taking time to invest in yourself professionally is one of the few choices that continues to pay off over time.

Intentional learning can build confidence, help work feel more manageable, and prepare you for what’s next, even when change feels constant. You don’t need to have everything figured out or commit to big blocks of time to get started. Small, thoughtful learning moments can create momentum and clarity along the way.

The following tips offer practical ways to begin, make time for learning, and invest in the most important asset: you.

Build Your Learning Plan

Knowing what to focus on can make learning feel far more manageable. A learning plan helps you identify clear goals and realistic timelines, giving your professional development direction while still remaining flexible. Developing your plan in collaboration with your supervisor is an important step, especially when learning takes place during work time. These conversations help ensure your goals align with role responsibilities and allow leadership to support and authorize the time needed for development.

As you create your plan, consider not only what you want to learn, but how you learn best. Some people benefit from live, instructor-led sessions, while others prefer self-paced online courses. Choosing learning opportunities that fit your learning preferences, schedule, and energy can make development easier to sustain.

Remember, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Explore resources and guidance on how to create a learning plan to help you clarify goals, identify learning opportunities, and take the first step with confidence.

How to Create Your Learning Plan
Use Tools to Help You Grow and find what you want to learn

Make Time for Growth

Once you’ve identified your learning goals, the next step is making space for them. Keep in mind that “available anytime” doesn’t automatically mean “when I have time.” Learning is most effective when it’s planned for.

Learning often fails when time isn’t intentionally set aside, not because of a lack of interest or want.

There are a variety of ways to pursue professional development, but online learning offers two major benefits:

  • Flexibility in time commitment
  • The freedom to learn at your own pace, making it easier to fit into a busy schedule

To help make learning time more intentional, Percipio offers a Schedule Time for Learning feature that allows you to add learning time directly to your calendar, creating a reminder that helps protect that time, making it easier to treat learning like any other important commitment.

Setting aside as little as 10 minutes to concentrate on the topics that matter most to your development goals can be meaningful.

Learn more about Schedule Time for Learning in Percipio

Stay Focused on Your Progress

The workplace is busy, and distractions are a normal part of the day, making it difficult to focus on your professional development, even when the intention is there. The suggestions below can help you create conditions that support learning.

  • If possible, set small boundaries during planned learning time. This can look like forwarding your phone to voicemail or posting a note at your workspace so you can focus, even for a short period.
  • When interruptions can’t be avoided, many online courses allow you to bookmark where you left off, making it easier to return to.
  • When learning takes place during work time, reviewing applicable university training and professional development policies can help ensure activities are aligned, supported, and appropriately authorized. These resources are available to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Appropriate Use of Training Time
Release Time for Training
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Next steps….

Now you have tips to help make time for learning, dive into how to create a Learning Plan.

Percipio Help

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Self-guided Help and Resources

Learners can get self-guided help from two sources:

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Who to Contact if You Need More Help

Learning Administrators support employees across the university by helping connect learners to required and optional training in Percipio. Assigned by area, college, or campus, they provide guidance on training access, completion, and compliance to support employee learning and development.

Contact your assigned Learning Administrator when you have questions about required training, assignments, or access to learning content in Percipio. They can also help if you encounter issues with enrollment, completion records, or need guidance on training requirements specific to your area, college, or campus.

If you know who your area’s Learning Administrator is, they’re your best first point of contact for questions about training, assignments, and learning support within your area. Learning Administrators work closely with Learning & Organizational Development (LOD) and can often help quickly resolve questions or guide you to the right next step.

You can contact LOD directly if you’re unsure who your Learning Administrator is, your question spans multiple areas or campuses, or you need additional support beyond what your Learning Administrator can provide.

Email the Training team
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Quick Links

Return to the Employee Training section page, or open the panel below for more pages.