Concorde Staff
Being a full-time mom and student can be a challenging endeavor. In addition to taking care of your children, you are also helping run a household, if not running it entirely.
Starting full-time school programs like the ones offered at Concorde can be daunting, but it is possible to be a full-time mom and student. By following some simple strategies, you can succeed as a parent and a student at the same time.
Time Management
Time management is going to be your best friend when you are a student. Find a daytimer or scheduler that works for you and start writing everything down. Start by writing down extra-curricular and family events.
Next, write down all your important dates for school. This includes tests, clinical exams, practicums, labs, and assignments. You may have conflicts with your family commitments, and it's important to recognize these right away.
Once you have the necessary events and activities down, you can plan chores like laundry and grocery days. You may also want to schedule quality time with your spouse and children when you know you won't be crazy busy with school.
When you are managing your time, be sure to prioritize. If your family is more important than cleaning, sometimes your house will be messy. Sometimes the laundry will pile up. It's okay to prioritize your family over household chores.
If you have older children or a spouse, make sure to discuss with them ways they can help out around the house. They can't do your schoolwork, but they can do the dishes.
Don't Procrastinate
Once you have your life planned out, it's important to stay on top of your schoolwork. Try to do things a week before they are due, so you have some flexibility in your life. Don't do assignments or study for tests at the last minute. Life has a habit of throwing challenges, and if you can avoid them, it is best to do so.
Doing assignments early and being on top of reading and studying will help you in the long run, especially as a parent. You never know when your child is going to spend the night awake because they are sick, and it can always happen the day before an important assignment is due.
It can also be easy to put other things in front of your schoolwork. There are strategies that you can use to make sure that you do not procrastinate.
Take "You" Time
As a parent, you are busy. Having school, kids, partners, and maybe even work is a lot to handle. With all these commitments, be sure to take some time for yourself. If you can't take care of your mental health, you won't be able to take care of anyone else.
This includes your family and your patients. Whether you have a 30-minute bubble bath, read a chapter of a book that is not school-related, go for a walk by yourself, or get some well-deserved spa time, be sure to take time for yourself.
Focus on the Positive
Being a full-time mom and student is not easy, but it is worth it in the long run to have a career that helps people who need it. If life gets challenging, remember to focus on the positive. You are doing something that will help hundreds, if not thousands of people over the course of your career. What you are doing is worthwhile.
These four steps will help you be successful as a full-time mom and student. Remember that time management is important and that you must prioritize to be successful and keep yourself healthy. If you feel like you are getting overwhelmed, take some time for yourself, and remember to focus on the positive.
**Images via Flickr by gm.esthermax
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