More times than not during your journey towards a degree, you have to decide between family and your schoolwork. Ultimately, your final decision is never an easy one and once made, you’re so exhaustive from juggling the shoulds or shouldn’ts that you can’t perform either role as student, Mom or employee very well. The following tips offer advice on how to be successful with all that you do!
1. Remain optimistic. Take three deep breaths when you feel yourself falling. Remind yourself that your commitment and productivity makes you really stand out among the rest. If you are positive about your direction, watch for resources around you that may show up to help support you in your efforts.
2. Discipline works everytime. Not only discipline yourself to a school schedule, but discipline your children when they make a mistake and interrupt your best intentions. Many parents will spend more time verbally telling children over and over not to do something but children continue anyway; a waste of time and energy. If there is a problem, provide a consequence and move on. In the long run, your children will be more behaved and listen to you the first time around.
4. Establish a routine. Try to attack homework at the same time per week. When attending class, have a plan for your children and a caretaker during that time. Always have a back up plan as well. Let your employer also know when you attend class so possible workshifts can be adjusted.
5. Maintain a calendar and checklists. Regardless of how young, don’t trust your mind to access the invisible list. It also boosts your self-esteem as you physically check items that you complete.
6. Have a place for everything. An immaculate house is not always possible but do have a basket, shelve or area in every room for children’s toys so you can save more time in cleaning efforts. Put your books, paper, pens and whatever else you need in the same place. If you are one to drop things as you go, try to take one item at a time, such as your keys, and leave them in the same spot every day until it becomes habit.
7. For every major project, test or paper, reward yourself. Plan a lunch with a friend. Reward your children too. Do something together and let them know when they have contributed to helping you.
8. Most balk at taking breaks and generally respond with not possible. But burnout is real and can appear without even realizing its dangers.
9.You may not be traveling to Disney World this year on vacation but may have to use your personal time from work to finish that final paper or study for the exam.
10. Try to jump start schoolwork, parental obligations and projects at work. If a fifteen page paper is due in eight weeks, start researching today. If letters are needed to advertise a new product launch, have your outline ready while you are waiting for the approval to move ahead. Control what you can!
