Sharing your survival tips--How do you prepare each semester?

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In the past, when I know I'm going to be faced with a tougher than normal challenge, I try to prepare and make life a little more convenient ahead of time.

Now that I have been officially accepted into the nursing program, I will be doing a lot preparation in between each semester.

Here are a few things I do before I start my tough semesters:

-Make meals and snacks that require very little to no prep time and freeze them.

-Clean like it's spring

-Give myself a pedicure with a new polish color.

-Get my hair done.

-Wear my kids out by spending tons of time with them.

-Me and my husband go out on a date.

What do you do to make life a little more convenient while in nursing school?

Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

I clean my desk, making sure my supplies are well stocked and it's nice and organized. I also label a binder for each class, make sure it has dividers, and make a corresponding folder on my computer desktop.

I use food.com (which used to be recipezaar) because I can now make menus. When I have time, I go through favorites and new recipes and make myself up about 4 or 5 weekly menus. Then, when its time to shop I just print out the shopping list for that week, cross off what I have and I'm in and out of the store in no time flat! My teenage daughter can also look at the menu and decide what to make for dinner when I ask her to. I like allrecipes too but find the menu option with its shopping list on food.com indispensable.

I clean the house from top to bottom, especially dusting and decluttering. Clutter drives me crazy and it distracts me from school.

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I like this post, I'm "bookmarking" it to read the rest.

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

I wanted to add this: another thing I do to prepare for the semester ahead is to watch as many movies and read as many books as I can, because I don't have time for this stuff when school is going on. I have been renting seasons of tv shows that I like that I don't get to watch (I always watch House, though - school or not!).

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I leave my campus for about a week. Do anything, go anywhere, something just gets away from school and get my mind to relax.

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Specializes in student; help!.
do you mind if i ask where everyone gets their quick/simple recipes from? (:

I highly recommend Fix, Freeze, Feast for doing freezer meals. Mostly dump recipes (make a sauce, dump the meat in, freeze).

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Inform your non-nursing school friends that you won't see them until Christmas.

Learn what you can order at a fast-food drive thru that won't wreck your LDL at your next check-up.

Get your annual check-up and/or screenings - you will neglect this stuff when you're in school.

Set up your study area ergonomically...sitting at the kitchen counter with your laptop or reading with your head bent over will wreck your neck!

Exercise, exercise, exercise! Yoga is a great to destress...start now so you won't be so sore during school.

Reinforce to the family that you are available for only the most dire of emergencies when it's time for class or clinicals.

Have sex...I know that's getting a little personal, but I promise you there won't be time for long, slow love later on; it'll be maintenance sex only during the week!

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Specializes in ICU.

In addition to cleaning the house, cooking/freezing a bunch of meals and getting school binders and study area ready, I also go to Wal-Mart and Trader Joes to stock up on 4-months worth of supplies. I have a master back-to-school stock up list that includes things like shampoo, toothpaste, TP, girlie supplies, laundry detergent, cat food, litter, hand soap, cleaning supplies, canned foods, rice, pasta, jar sauces, cases of soymilk...basically anything that does not need to be refrigerated. It saves me tons of time as I only have to make a quick run to the store once a week or so for fresh veggies and tofu.

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-Cleaning and de-cluttering my apartment. I haven't started yet but I plan to very soon.

-Sell anything that is just sitting here and that will never be used.

-Playing and completing as many video games as I can! That particular hobby will most likely be moved to the weekends so I'm getting it all in now.

-Rearranging some furniture so that I can have a study area for me or a group. (My apartment is really close to campus but still nice and quiet so I am going to offer it in case we feel the need to get away from campus for a while.)

-Getting used to an exercise routine.

-Stocking up on supplies, coffee, and recipes for my crock pot.

-Teaching my fiance how to cook so it's not just me all the time.

-Relaxing relaxing relaxing!!

-We're taking a relaxing Finger Lakes trip this coming week. Our last chance to vacay before school starts. :yeah:

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One other thing I do is organize and file my documents/mail. I'm one of those that let it sit [in a neat pile :rolleyes:] for weeks until my two-tiered paper holder is so crammed full of docs that I'm virtually left with no other choice.

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LOL...these are such good tips... I will be going into my fourth semester Aug 16 and let me tell you..to those that are getting ready to start...JUST RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM.... YOU just do not understand how much of your life and time has to be devoted to Nursing School....you have to "eat, sleep, and breathe nursing school"...now this is from my own experience now yours may be different... I do not have time for myself at all....my kids ( 13, 6, 3, 19 months) all want my attention at once ( esp. when trying to study from an exam)..My husband has threatened to sue the college for "ALIENATION OF AFFECTION" because I really do not have ANY TIME for him...IT IS JUST SCHOOL...but I have to keep tell them that it is going to be worth it when I grad. May 2011 just hang in there. So just take time for yourself these few weeks before you start school because once you start THEY OWN YOU for the next 2 yrs.:eek:

I am not trying to scare anyone..just trying to keep it real;)

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Specializes in oncology, med/surg, ortho.

In between semesters I sleep alot! LOL. I prepare by relaxing, watching movies, watching shows that I have missed on HULU.COM. I play a lot of games on the computer, and I clean the house and my car because i know that I will never get to clean it again for a while. I go out with friends, eat, drink, and enjoy the short lived freedom that I have. I totally agree with SherriBerry, enjoy your freedom while you can. I'm proud and happy I'm in Nursing School, but my goodness it is the most exhausting thing ever! I had a breakdown after I finished MED/SURG. Not during, but after....because I didn't have time to think and cry about anything during that semester between school and work. ugh! I like all of the recipe ideas that you all have shared. Its easy to fall into the fast food trap and eat it everyday. Thanks for all the great ideas :)

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Specializes in student; help!.
My husband has threatened to sue the college for "ALIENATION OF AFFECTION" because I really do not have ANY TIME for him...

I am not trying to scare anyone..just trying to keep it real;)

MrMonkey and I have already worked out a deal and a plan. ;)

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