The day is finally over. It’s 9:15 PM, and your kids are in their beds.
The dishes from the dinner are still on the counter, but you’re too exhausted to deal with them right away, so what do you do?
You scroll through your phone, of course. It’s 2026, and this is how we wind down now. While scrolling, you see an ad for that online course you keep meaning to take because it would give you the chance to get a better job, and a tiny part of you wants to click it. But honestly, who has the time for it? Where do you find the energy to attend?
And that right there is the real struggle. You want to learn and grow, but how?
Between the bills and the bedtimes, taking any time for yourself is a luxury. You have the potential, but there’s this wall between you and what you are capable of doing.
So what’s that wall really about, and how do you climb over it?
What’s Holding You Back from Upskilling
Feeling stuck is very stressful, and many people feel like this.
Unfortunately, they also consider themselves to be lazy or not driven enough, which isn’t the reason for being stuck. The things that are holding you back aren’t character flaws but actual, concrete obstacles that exist because you have people who depend on you.
Here are the biggest ones.
No Time
Time is a big one, and you most likely have a complete lack of it, right? Your day is already full with work, kids, and chores.
Sometimes, it’s not even full but overbooked, so the idea of squeezing in a 2-hour course to your week feels… Well, you can only laugh at it. So you label personal development as something you’ll (maybe) eventually get to.
With that being said, you’re already so maxed out that that mythical time block stays mythical.
No Money
Let’s say you finally find a sliver of time for yourself.
Now you need to find the money to pay for the course you want to take. But when you have a family with needs and wants, spending hundreds or thousands on a piece of paper feels risky. That money would be better spent on mortgage, groceries, the new shoes your kid needs, the dentist co-pay, and so on.
Besides, it’s not just the fee that’s the issue. There’s no guarantee that the course will lead to anything, so why take the risk?
No Help and/or Encouragement
Going back to school, even if it’s only for a certificate, can be very lonely.
Maybe your boss sees it as a distraction, or your spouse wants you to spend your free time with them instead of at school. If you have nobody to support your decision, you feel selfish for even thinking about it, so you give up.
No Clarity
Let’s say you have none of the hurdles I mentioned so far.
Even if you’ve got everything covered, you still need to sit down and decide exactly what to do, which can be paralyzing. There are so many options, how do you possibly choose? What’s useful and what’s a scam? What will actually be a good investment for you?
The flood of choices is overwhelming, and that alone can make you stop in your tracks.
How to Push Through and Keep Learning
Okay, so now you know what’s stopping you. Where do you go from here?
First, let’s talk about time.
If you keep trying to find a whole hour, you won’t get far, so look for 15 minutes. That could be during lunch break or after the kids have gone to sleep, but before you’re totally brain-dead. Choose that one small window and fully commit to it. It’s more sustainable and successful to learn in small chunks anyway, so why wait for the perfect weekend that will never come?
As far as money goes, think of this more as a strategic investment, not so much an expense.
Before you spend anything, get clear on what your goal is. Why do you need this skill? Do you want to switch fields? Is it a side hustle you’re after? Then, research like crazy and look for good courses. Coursera and YouTube are great for testing the waters before committing.
Now, as far as the choices go, you have to be ruthless and narrow down your focus. Talk to the person who has the job you want and ask them how they got there.
Here’s a great example for why that’s useful:
Florida contractor continuing education courses are excellent for what the construction market currently needs. Since the real estate market is booming hard, you need a bunch of contractors there, and each one needs to have a valid license and must be up to speed with new technology and protocols in order to stay competitive. Plus, these courses help prep the contractors for the licensing exam and/or the renewal cycle exam.
It’s the same with a city like Los Angeles, but if you’re here, you’ll also find that the aesthetician courses are a very good investment because, well… You know. It’s L.A., so you naturally need A LOT of skilled professionals working in the beauty industry (e.g., skincare, hair care, facial treatments, manicure/pedicure, etc., etc.).
The point isn’t the location; it’s clarity.
Find the most direct path to the industry you’re interested in and then take it from there.
Conclusion
When you’re in an airplane, and the oxygen masks come down, you know you have to put yours on first and then tend to your kid, right?
This is pretty much the same deal.
When you’re growing and moving forward, it’s not just you that benefits, but your entire family. So you’re doing something for everyone, not just yourself.
Pick one tiny thing from this article. Just one. Sign up for a free module tonight and talk to your partner about it. That’s already a huge step forward, and it’s a win!
The rest is just momentum.
