Time management; class, family, exercise...etc

[Myoclonicjerk]

I will be beginning my Accelerated BSN program on June 1. Trying to figure out how to manage my time. My first priority will be to ensure that I spend some time with my 5 year old daughter every day. I'm a cyclist that rides about 8-10 hours per week and run about 3-4 hours per week. I know that I'll have to back off those numbers a bit. I tend to be very focused on school when I'm taking classes and spend copious amounts of time at the library. I anticipate nursing school will be no different.

How much time do you spend studying? Have you had to back off exercise? I still want to spend some time with wife/daughter. I've already forewarned them that time is going to be precious. I think that I'm just looking for some time management advice from some people that have gone through what I'm about to do.

Thanks

[Nurseworks, ASN, RN]

Here's my take as an adult (45) who has returned to school to become an RN; pace yourself and prioritize on a sliding scale. Like you, I enjoy cycling, but since the weather in the NE has been awful this winter, I've tapered off more than usual and stuck to a couple of indoor trainer sessions per week. When the weather clears, the trips to the gym may suffer instead (but probably not). Honestly, I don't see a reason to cut back too drastically on healthy pursuits; they're good for both body and mind. I don't know about you, but nothing clears my head after a tough day than ~20 mile ride. It'll only take you about an hour, so it's worth it IMHO.

My kiddos have special needs, so that can be a mixed bag. The typical parent-kid things such as trips to soccer games isn't there, but their other, unique needs can be even more demanding sometimes. Either way, I still find time to be dad and husband.

I'm fortunate to work in a hospital, so it's like an extra clinical experience and I treat it as such, soaking in as much information and experience as I can while earning a paycheck. So in that regard, I have a bit more wiggle room in the "what to sacrifice" department. If that's an option for you, I highly recommend it.

The one thing I wouldn't sacrifice at all is studying time. Whether you choose to do solo sessions, study groups, question drilling or any combination thereof, treat it like a second job that you need to pay the rent/mortgage.

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

Wow, that is disheartening. Like you, I'm a former D1 athlete. Currently a competitive duathlete(run/bike/run) that on a typical week will train 10-12 hours. However, I know that is going to suffer, especially time on the bike since the 3 and 4 hour longer rides are going to be impossible to work in. I was hoping to at least have time to run 30 mins a day during the week. Some of the people in the class ahead of me work on weekends or part time throughout the week. If those guys can work, I was hoping I'd have time to squeeze in a workout. I'm sure that will be the first thing to go though as wife/daughter time is extremely important to me. I'll invest in some loose fitting sweats to accommodate my anticipated weight gain! Thanks and good luck...

I struggled a little bit at the start with balancing everything and it's really in the first fundamentals bit that you are consumed with school. Then, in the second qtr, I was like, eff this there is no reason to be studying this much....cuz, there really isn't and I really, really, really needed to exercise. I mean, you have to study but you get to the point where things keep repeating themselves for a while and you start to master them in class without extra studying. Besides, the idea is to really hone your critical thinking skills and my brain is a fog if I can't get a decent workout in. You won't be able to be doing 2 hour workouts everyday but the nifty thing is you're going to start learning how to get what you were doing during your training into shorter periods and (as long as you don't injure yourself) that gives you an even bigger boost.

Spare yourself at least a day out of the week where you can do what you're used to doing. It's sporadic but I get in a least one good, long run a week with the rest being more circuit HITT-style workouts. I'm trying to get in gear for a half-marathon in May and I'm working part time and my partner is giving me no excuses - the half-marathon is happening. Just consider it practice for learning how to juggle everything in the typical hectic life of a nurse.

[leonard_huh, BSN, MSN, RN, APN]

main focus is family and school, exercising you can squeeze it in whenever you have a chance maybe just bike to school or work or something in between. I have had to cut down from exercising to study and work, but once the midterms are down im back at staying active. studying will depend on how you can retain and learn the information

[PG2018]

I was a jaunty bachelor when I started nursing academics and was a bit of a gym junkie and runner as well. I didn't have a family at the time. I suspect it would've made things worse. The rest I just sucked up and dealt with. I worked, worked out, read, did my assignments, and lived life. I don't know how it would've worked out with a rugrat at home.

[spinny87]

Tomorrow is my level 2 final. I have gained twenty pounds since august. Waist

Increase from 34 to 37. That's what nursing school can do to your exercising. I can't wait for summer. I will run until my shins snap in half.