Studying With Family & Work...Advice

[peachshan, BSN, RN]

I am almost finished with prereqs and I find myself struggling with juggling all these different aspect of my life. I am married with a 1 year old and I work as a teacher. I used to have downtime at work but now between my assistant wanting to have conversations at every quiet moment and the administration team constantly checking on teachers, I cannot seem to get any studying done. I really don't have a lunch period to myself because the kids I teach have to be fed by us and when we are done I end up eating in the classroom. At home, I usually study after my son goes to bed (around 7:30). However, I feel like I am wasting valuable study time during the day especially on weekends. He still needs my attention though plus I can't neglect the house. I have been doing good in my prerequisites and would like to keep it that way. How can I schedule my time better? Thanks for the vent as well:)

[kguill975, MSN, APRN, NP]

I recorded my lectures and listened to them in the car while driving and when winding down for bed at night, and I made flash cards to study at stop lights, standing in line at the grocery store, and any other time I had a minute for a quick peek. It's not easy to juggle school, work, and family, but millions have done it before you, and millions will do it after you, so that tells you that it is doable. Good luck, and remember to squeeze in time to decompress. Don't let the stress take over your life.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

• If you aren't truly required to work during your lunch, go to your car and study.
  
• Can you go home and relinquish all tasks to your spouse. I mean, go home and within 30 minutes of arrival, sit down to study.
  
• Make your study materials portable: make flash cards you can review in 15 minute increments, make photocopies or drawings or diagrams of key concepts. I used to post my study materials on my bathroom mirror. I also used a carry a small bag with study guides.
  
• Can you wake up super early so you have 1-4 hrs before your child wakes up to study.
  
• Can you check out of all family activities on the weekends - tell your spouse you can not do anything at all because you have to study.
  
• I used to have a set study date every Sunday at a local restaurant. 4-6 hrs of straight concept review broken up only to eat 2 times.
  

Sorry, I don't have more tips. While I have 3 children, the youngest was 4 when I began this journey to become a nurse, so most of what I did won't work for moms of toddlers!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm single, work full time plus the call requirements basically equal a second half-time job, and go to grad school full time. Studying at work isn't possible, but I do take advantage of low-census days to get home to study. I pay a cleaning service to do a deep cleaning every 4 weeks so that I can do the minimal in between. I utilize a meal preparation store (Dream Dinners- they're fantastic!) so that all I have to do is minimal cooking with little to no prep work and have a stocked freezer at all times. Basically, if I can afford something that frees up more of my time, I'm taking advantage of it.

As far as finding time to study, I need some downtime after work, so I allow myself a certain amount of time for TV/pleasure reading/internet once I get home before I have to buckle down with the school work. I find it helpful to create a color coded calendar with work schedule, family events, and due dates for assignments that is not on the computer/smartphone. I also frequently make myself a weekly to-do list- Monday is reading, Tuesday is reading and start discussion post, Wednesday is finish and submit discussion post, Thursday is start the weekly paper and do 2 of the 3 required response posts, Friday is the last response post and work on the paper, Saturday is finish the paper, Sunday is for reviewing and submitting the paper, then it all starts over. I find breaking things into smaller steps very helpful.