When I became a parent I put a lot of things on the back burner, school included. After going through a divorce and starting my life again I realized that my education needed to be a priority again. Now that Toodie has started Kindergarten it has made my schedule much more flexible than before. I have decided to take advantage of this open door and continue my education by finishing my degree. I’ve worked hard to get where I am and was recently accepted into the business program at a new college. While I am ecstatic for the opportunity and to finish, I do remind myself that I am also a mom and that has obstacles of its own to compete with.
Being a parent isn’t easy as it is and adding school on top of it seemed a bit overwhelming. These past two years I have found a way to balance being a mother, student, working, and blogging. It has not always been easy but I know there are many of you out there in the same boat that need a little bit of assurance that it is possible. I am sharing my six favorite and most useful tips to help you balance going back to school as a parent.
Don’t Procrastinate: Procrastination is your worst enemy. You may remind yourself that laundry needs to be done or dinner has to be prepared but don’t put off school related responsibilities for too long. It’s very easy to let ourselves drift into a state of forgetfulness because there are so many other everyday life tasks we can’t ignore. Plan ahead and find a way to schedule your day in a way in which you will be able to take a little bit of time for every area that needs attention. If you get yourself into a habit of procrastinating it may be hard to get out of.
Invest In A Planner Or Calendar: I am a visual person and I have always benefited from having a planner or schedule to focus on. I write everything down including my assignments, appointments, and public school schedule. I even keep track of how many glasses of water I drink a day. A little over-organized, yes at times. But staying organized isn’t a bad thing and it will keep you on track. Sometimes it is easier and more efficient to have something physical to reference rather than leaving it up to your memory. We have a million things going on at any given time of the day so why not make life easier?
Use Time Wisely: We’re parents and we don’t have all the time in the world. Whenever I get an ounce of free time there are so many things that I want to do and I tend to forget what is most important on that list. Before doing anything, check your planner or schedule and see what HAS to be done. Check for deadlines, due dates, and any work you may have that could take more time than usual. This could be homework assignments or upcoming projects. I find that getting my school work out of the way first is much more productive and still leaves me a bit of time to do fun things I enjoy like blogging or catching up my Netflix programs.
Remind Yourself Why: When you feel like you want to pull your hair out or throw that Calculus book out the window, remind yourself why you are pursuing an education. For me it was to finish what I started, set an example for my daughter, and also fulfill my dreams. You aren’t just doing this for you. Chances are your are doing it to provide a better life for your family. In today’s world a good education is crucial and beneficial. The road may not be an easy one to travel but there is no denying that it will lead to long-term rewards.
Make Time For Family: It’s very easy for school to take over your entire day, night, weekend, and social life. By the time you finish your work you may be completely exhausted and dying for a nap. This is when you need a coffee. Don’t forget about your family. Make sure that you give yourself enough time that you can get your work done and also spend time with those you love. They still need you just as much as that History paper does! Set aside an hour every night and devote that time to them without any interruptions.
Still struggling to believe that you can do it too? After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Business, I graduated with my Master’s in Human Resource Management!
Congrats on returning to school to finish your degree. I finally got my degree 5 years ago and although it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, it was also one of the most rewarding.
Seriously, I need to reevaluate my time as my kids will be returning to school shortly. I will just have the baby home so i will need to get all my plans in order.
I think asking for help is a big one for a lot of people. I am definitley guilty of not asking when I need it.
That is so awesome that you're going back to school. I'm sure it will be really challenging but you can do it!
LOVE your I AM MOM image, so true! Congrats on your new endeavor!
LOVE your I AM MOM image, so true! Congrats on your new endeavor!
Thank you for these tips. I need SO much more help. I am currently in the "I am so freaking overwhelmed" stage…….
Love that you're going back to school. I keep wanting to go for my Master's, but… life and money get in the way. Plus I keep finding that my interests are always changing. But, with that being said I could easily be a lifetime student – I LOVED school.
That is fantastic way to go! I bet it will be a challenge but one you will enjoy!
Moms have such a huge job and as a mom of four I well remember how stressful September can be. I just have one left in high school now so it has eased up a bit but still, so much to do and so many things to pay for! Looks like you are doing a great job!
I give you so much credit. I wouldn't want to go back to school!
I can see that being organized and efficient with your time would be critical. I can't even imagine doing it though because guess who's not organized?
Great list. I want to become more organized too. It's critical for staying calm and stress-free.
It is definitely hard to work, go to school, and be a mom. It takes lots of planning and every minute of the day has to be spent wisely.
I need to get more organized too! Planning and organization really help life seem less stressful
I would think that it would be very hard to go back to school as a mother. I have a hard time balancing it all now.