Getting Organized Before Starting School

kellis3 · Jul 24, 2005

I am wondering the same thing. My situation is very similar. I am not the best housekeeper. I have 3 children. I am interested in any advice about getting organized before school, staying organized during school, and the best planner to use (notebook or pda)

Dratz · Jul 24, 2005

What I have done with my last month here before school starts is:

1. Organize my study/computer room

2. Refreshing myself on nursing math. I bought the text we will be using and am going through it. I suck at math.

3. Bought my shoes and made sure they feel great. Bought my steth..slowly buying supplies, pens, paper etc.

4. Bought myself a PDA and downloaded some free software on it. Spending time trying to figure out how to work on it.

5. I might cook some freezer meals but then again I might not...Hubby who is not that supportive of my nursing can starve for all that matters.

6. Dental appts done, cats have been to the vet.

7. Getting my car in for a service before the cold weather starts and that should be any day now since I live in the frigid part of Canada.

8. Warning my family members how cranky I will get once I am knee deep in studying. Not that they listen :rotfl:

9. Reading every post I can about "getting ready for nursing school"..

10. Making lists of what I still have to do.

11. Don't have my "book list" yet but once I do, I hope to get some reading in before classes start.

12. I made a very large easily readable "Do Not enter" sign and posted it on my study/computer room door so my son will read it and doesn't barge in on me while I am working. Not that it will help, he does anyhow.:uhoh21:

And lastly, not concerning myself too much with anyone else in my life that demands my time...cuz these next two years are for ME ME ME...

Does that help?? :rotfl: Think that about covers it for me.

Mudnuri · Jul 24, 2005

I, like many of us, am staring my first semester in August. I've been a stay-at-home mom since the birth of my twins six years ago. I have been going to school for the last two years but I know that nursing school will demand a whole lot more of my time. I'm looking for ideas on what kinds of things others have done to make life easier at home before school starts so that the house runs smoothly during school. I am not the best housekeeper on the norm, and of course, I do all the shopping and pay the bills and set all the doc/dentist appts., etc. Have any of you found a routine that works for you? I hope this makes sense. LOL!!! I'm just down to one month before school starts and I want to get all my ducks in a row. Thanks in advance for any input.

Well, let me see if I can help a bit. I'm pretty organized as a general rule, and these are some of the rules I live by so to speak.

Dentist appts are made for everyone the same time- back to back appts.

Bill paying is done on Sunday nights. If the bill has come in - it gets paid on Sunday night. If I cant pay it online- then it goes in the mailbox monday morning for the mail man to pick up

Cleaning- well if your not already doing it- this might be your biggest stress... I have 2 daughters, almost 8 & 9, and they are responsible for quite a bit of the housework. I dont know your situation, or age of your children if any, so I cant really help out there... however

I do not allow clutter into my house- plain and simple. When I walk through the door with the girls- backpacks are emptied (they go to day camp in the summer so our routine does not change). Trash is thrown away, lunch bags are cleaned out- sandwich container goes in the dishwasher, etc. I open the mail, throw away the junk, and place the bills on the top shelf of my computer desk.

I sweep/swiffer my floors 2 times a day- 2 cats, and 1600 sq feet of hard wood floors...no choice there for me. The floors are swiffer wet'd 2-3 times a week, the girls do this. The bathroom is cleaned every morning before we leave, a quick wipe down of the vanity, and toilet bowl swished.

In the winter, I use my crock pot a lot. I'll throw the stuff in it before I leave in the AM and its done when I get home. If I'm not using the crock pot, everything is out on the counter (non perishable items) in the morning before we leave. In the summer we eat a lot lighters, less meat more salads fruits etc.

I live by lists, routines- grocery lists, menu's for the week, etc. I always do my grocery shopping on Thursday nights, always do my laundry on sun/wed's.

One big tip- never go to bed with your kitchen a mess LOL Ruins my mornings quickly if i walk out and see a counter full of crumbs, or a sink with dishes in it - I run my dishwasher every night as I head to bed, then unload it in the am...

not much here to do with school, but its best to get your routines NOW instead of after you start school and cant get organized

Brandy

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2005

I am halfway through my program and I am a wife and mother. These are things I have learned by trial and error. Sorry it is longish.

1. If there is one morning a week that you don't have class, pencil in 2 hours for financial/meal maintenance. I make this part of my schedule just like school, otherwise my bills would be late and my home even more chaotic than it already is. I balance our checkbooks, pay any bills (if it is a bill paying week, my hubby gets paid every 2 weeks), fill out any forms, and take stock of my pantry.

2. Nights that I am in school late hubby or I either make something frozen or I throw something in the crockpot before I leave, it takes 5 minutes, we might also have sandwiches or leftovers those nights.

3. I try to have a really well stocked pantry, things like toilet paper, paper towels, ketchup, canned fruit, flour, sugar, coffee, etc...I also try to have things on hand that I can throw a meal together if I have been too busy to grocery shop, tuna, hamburger helper, spaghetti sauce and pasta.

4. I have a calender that I carry around in my purse that has everything going on in our lives on it so I know what I am doing on which day. At the beginning of every quarter I write down all test, paper, and assignment due dates in my book so I can plan accordingly. If I am going to have a hell week at school I know in advance and can plan accordingly.

5. I have two bookbags, my tues-thurs one and my mon-wed-friday one. I have a plastic clipboard with storage that I use on clinical days, it holds my hospital pens, stethoscope, hospital watch, clinical cheat sheets, basically anything I would use in clinicals.

6. My kids have active busy lives, and I am fortunate that other moms know how busy I am and offer to take my kids to their activities if it is a night my husband or I can't. I don't want my kids to suffer because I am in school. Sometimes it gets hectic. I try to reciprocate to these wonderful moms when I am on break, sometimes I make them cookies or bread as a thank you and they know I am available should the need ever arise.

7. Looking back at my list, none of this would be possible without my husband. Life isn't all roses every day either, he gets fed up with school every once in awhile, but those times are fewer and farther between now that we have gotten into a routine.

Mudnuri · Jul 24, 2005

I am halfway through my program and I am a wife and mother. These are things I have learned by trial and error. Sorry it is longish.
3. I try to have a really well stocked pantry, things like toilet paper, paper towels, ketchup, canned fruit, flour, sugar, coffee, etc...I also try to have things on hand that I can throw a meal together if I have been too busy to grocery shop, tuna, hamburger helper, spaghetti sauce and pasta.
4. I have a calender that I carry around in my purse that has everything going on in our lives on it so I know what I am doing on which day. At the beginning of every quarter I write down all test, paper, and assignment due dates in my book so I can plan accordingly. If I am going to have a hell week at school I know in advance and can plan accordingly.
6. My kids have active busy lives, and I am fortunate that other moms know how busy I am and offer to take my kids to their activities if it is a night my husband or I can't. I don't want my kids to suffer because I am in school. Sometimes it gets hectic. I try to reciprocate to these wonderful moms when I am on break, sometimes I make them cookies or bread as a thank you and they know I am available should the need ever arise.

Those 3 are great examples! The one about the kids activites really hits home. Until now, I was the mom that always picked up and dropped off other kids. Never bothered me, and I was always glad to help out a mom or dad who wasnt able to get out of work or school etc.. I think its important that we remember to ASK for assistance. It's not an easy thing to do, but it needs to be done at some times.

My girls will be giving up enough of "me" time just by me being in school, that they still need to have the activities that they enjoy, soccer, basketball etc... I am a fortunate single mom, in that my X and i get along wonderfully and the girls spend time with him. I was able to work out my class schedule this fall to accomodate our custody agreement, and not require me to miss any "evening activites" of my girls....

looking forward to my 1st "hell week" at school :chuckle

Brandy

lilme · Jul 24, 2005

I am starting my three year BSN program on sept 6. am almost done with my microbiology class- have two weeks to go. Then I have about one month till school starts again. I have had rough summer- retaking microbiology class and still sucking at it- almost makes me doubt myself. But heey its almost over and I'm sure I'll pass and thats all that matters.

Okey back to the topic: here are the ways I'm planing to prepare myself for the comming semester:

1. Make sure I know what books I'll need. I found out that I can get them at the School library and the public library- wonder if I should buy them at all :rolleyes:

2. Read the books or at least look at them and get an idea what to expect to read.

3. Try to figure out if there are any syllaby for the classes. that can give u alot of ideas on what to read

4. Since I'm taking physiology- I got the book from a friend- I'll review it.

5. Do all the cleaning, laundry I can do- I live wit my mom and unfortunately she does most house chores- I'll try to organize my room as much as possible

6. Read books on study habits, Nursing school, and time management

7. Do some shopping- never get time to do that during the semester

8. Exercise, sleep alot and spend some time wit my family cause I know as soon as the school starts I wont have time to do that.

9. Read the posts on this website---- love it

10. Take a deep breath and RELAX- cause I know no matter how much I try to prepare myself- I can never be prepared enough

Besides I dont know what to expect and I'm very excited about- I almost have butterflies in my tomy.

Good Luck

-Sophia

Katydidit34 · Jul 24, 2005

Thanks so much you guys. This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for. I just know how much time school is going to take and I worry about trying to maintain the status quo for my family so their lives aren't totally turned upside down. By the way, I have a 12 y.o. son who is starting the 7th grade and I have twin daughters who are 6 and starting the 1st grade. NONE OF THEM PICK UP AFTERTHEMSELVES!!! LOL!! Pardon the rant. hehehehe....AlbertaRose, your post cracked me up!!

SLH522 · Jul 24, 2005

Thank you so much for posting this question. I was wondering the same thing myself. I have three daughters, 13, 10, and 7...my hubby is an elementary teacher and minister. Life is hectic as it is - without me going to school.

These tips were wonderful. I LOVE this site.

Dratz · Jul 24, 2005

Thanks so much you guys. This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for. I just know how much time school is going to take and I worry about trying to maintain the status quo for my family so their lives aren't totally turned upside down. By the way, I have a 12 y.o. son who is starting the 7th grade and I have twin daughters who are 6 and starting the 1st grade. NONE OF THEM PICK UP AFTERTHEMSELVES!!! LOL!! Pardon the rant. hehehehe....AlbertaRose, your post cracked me up!!

:chuckle Best wishes for you in school. Yep this board is great!!

stressgal, RN · Jul 24, 2005

You have received some great advice. A good planner/calendar is essential. It doesn't have to be fancy, just big enough to write down everything you need to accomplish. I not only write out my exams on the schedule but I also write out the readings that need to be accomplished. Looking at 8 chapters a week to read in one class can be overwhelming, but looking at it as one + chapter to read a day is much more managable.

I am a bit type A personality, and I also find it a benefit to make out my dinner calendar a quarter at a time. This makes the job of figuring out what we will eat for dinner a no brainer, as well as simplifying the grocery shopping. There are times we may get a desire for something else and aren't steadfast with the calendar, but boy does it help when my brain can think of nothing else that day.

Like another poster, I also utilize different bookbags throughout the week.

Good luck with nursing school! It goes by fast.

belabelisa · Jul 24, 2005

I love this thread! I've been trying to think of things that I can do for the next month to make the next two years easier (or at least more organized).

Here's what I'm doing...

1. Brushing up on my math. I bought a book called "Math for Meds" and I'm going through it.

2. I'm going to set up a nice, quite study area. I'm still thinking of things I will need in there. I know I'll have a desk, a good chair, a small bookcase, and a file cabinet.

3. I'm getting my financial stuff in order. I'm going to try to get a system of some sort going.

4. I'm going to rid my closets and garage (as well as the rest of my house) of all clutter.

5. I'm going to set up a system of cleaning and other household chores.

6. I'm getting my car serviced.

7. I'm making 3-4 week's worth of meal plans and grocery lists that I can just use over and over.

8. I'm buying a tape recorder to record my lecture notes on. Thanks to the smart person who mentioned this on another thread. I don't have a long drive to school, but I'm going to listen to mine while working out. Otherwise, I probably won't break away from studying to go to the gym.

9. I'm organizing my file cabinet (NOT looking forward to this).

and last, but not least...

10. I'm planning a vacation for January. I'm sure I'll need!