Work life balance.
Having it all.
There’s been countless articles written on this topic: women juggling family life and work. (There’s far fewer articles about men attempting the same juggling act, but that’s a topic for another day.)
It’s hard enough giving time to your job and while also balancing child play time, household chores, exercise and sleep.
But what if you’re attempting to balance work, motherhood and school? Not your child’s school schedule – as hectic as that might be – but your own.
It’s a lot to deal with: a job, a family and going back to school, but it can be done. The website Working Mother offers these tips (while also acknowledging that things won’t always go smoothly).
1. Create an Easy-To-Access Calendar
Any busy family can benefit from having a shared calendar, and this becomes even more important when a parent has gone back to school. It will help you avoid missed appointments, scheduling conflicts and other headaches.
The calendar will let everyone log their activities, class and work schedule and other appointments. There are many apps that you can download to your family’s devices that include to-do lists and the ability to schedule reminders.
2. Save Time Where You Can
Having a busy schedule means you’ll want to spend as much time with your family as possible. You may not be able to shave time off your school and work hours, but you can save time in other ways:
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Cook/freeze meals on weekends, and thaw them during the week.
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If you have access to public transportation, commute by train. It will give you time to study or answer e-mails.
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Follow these memorization techniques so you’ll spend less time studying and more time playing outdoor games with your kids.
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If it’s in your budget, hire a cleaning service to come in once a week.
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Give older kids an incentive to pitch in: Offer extra spending money for doing extra chores or – if they’re of driving age – acting as chauffer for their younger siblings.
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Ask family members to cut back on extracurricular activities—maybe to just one or two each semester – to give everyone more time together.
By cutting out some of these small things, you won’t have to worry about making larger sacrifices.
3. Take Advantage of Services on Campus
If you’re feeling pressured, your school is there to help. Spend time at your campus learning center rather than struggling with an assignment at home. Instead of working out at your gym, use the facilities at your school. And if you don’t have time to cook or pick up take out, you can grab some sandwiches and salads from the cafeteria.
4. Feed Your Body, and Your Brain
You enrolled in school as an investment in your future, and the last thing you want to do is cheat yourself by being too worn out to make the most of school, work, or life.
That’s why it’s important to take care of yourself, both in mind and in body:
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Eat something for breakfast each day.
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Make sure your diet includes brain-friendly foods, such as salmon and shellfish, tomatoes, blueberries and strawberries, broccoli, spinach, walnuts and whole grains.
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Do something physical every day, even if it’s just a few quick stretches. Exercise can help manage stress. Take a walk with your kids, or join in one of their outdoor games.
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Try to have a social life. You deserve some time away from school, work and family.
And finally, be realistic and patient. Being a parent, student and employee is like any balancing act: you need to take your time.
