time management

duanefn · Feb 7, 2006

Where is your spouse or significant other? He has a responsibilty to ensure you succeed as well. ARe they his kids? If your drowning then his needs are not being met and neither are yours. Its time for a heart to heart.

TexasPediRN · Feb 7, 2006

Well, I went to nursing school full time, and dont have kids and am not yet married, but hopefully you dont mind me giving you some advice!!

I am one that needs to be organized. Buy yourself a scheduler (or you can even use index cards or stickies for items that need to be done that week), and write down everything you have due for the semester in the scheduler. Then, each week, I would write a new sticky of what I had to do that week.

If I found myself idle, I went ahead to something else that was due, so that I could get it done.

Do you have someone to watch the kids for a weekend, or even 8 hours? If so, take advantage of it and try and catch up on your school work and get ahead if you can. Getting ahead will only be to your advantage later on in the semester.

I found all of this expecially pertinent when I started my nursing classes.

I would also try and plan out a weekly schedule- try to make and eat dinner say around, 6pm every night. That way you know to stop working at 5ish, cook dinner, and eat at 6. this way you arent frantic to get things done. I would say pick a night or two to do laundry as well, this way you know its something you need to get done, and when you are going to do it.

Good luck! I hope this helps! I really recommend a scheduler/planner though and writing down everything, as well as trying to get ahead.

-Meghan :nurse:

Stdy2BaNurse · Feb 7, 2006

Where is your spouse or significant other? He has a responsibilty to ensure you succeed as well. ARe they his kids? If your drowning then his needs are not being met and neither are yours. Its time for a heart to heart.

Have to agree with this post! My dh finally came around about a year ago and realized that if he wanted clean laundry and a decent meal - not to mention anything else - he was going to have to pitch in. If that is not an option for you - what about extended family?

missninaRN · Feb 7, 2006

I have found that I need to cut myself some slack in the household department.

When I do cook dinner, I make a bigger batch and freeze some for another night. I've started buying frozen lasagnas and pizzas. I know they may not be the healthiest option, but when I have two exams and a paper due, they'll get the job done.

The house is not as clean as it used to be. Dust bunnies pile up for several days before I get around to swiffering them. In fact, during the week I only do as much cleaning as I can fit in around preparing dinner. While something simmers or bakes, I might sweep the kitchen floor and tidy up the living room. And those disposable dusters and wipes are wonderful! Sometimes the only thing that gets done in the bathroom is a quick going-over with a disinfectant wipe.

I may or may not do a load of laundry a day now. I try to throw one in the washer on the way out the door in the a.m. and put it in the dryer when I get home.

My family has adjusted to this new way of doing things and are adapting to it. My husband eats a lot more cereal (even for supper). My daughter has taken over unloading and re-loading the diswasher. Adn my son does his own laundry. Of course, that means it piles up in his room for quite awhile, but I don't have to go in there and look at it.

Lowering my expectations for myself was hard at first. I must confess I am a former Martha (as in Stewart) and thought everything had to be done perfectly and on schedule. Now that the schedule is much more flexible, I am able to focus on my studies and not stress about the mess that surrounds me at any given moment. We just have to get through this for a few years.

So the bathrooms didn't get cleaned this week, and I haven't cooked dinner for several nights. Nobody died, so I guess we're doing okay.

JVRB4 · Feb 8, 2006

I too am a stay at home mom. I have a son (11) and a daughter (6). I have been out of school for about 13yrs. I started back this semester and am currently taking 11credits also. We just moved into our new home on New Years Eve so I am still unpacking. At my church I am in the choir which has practice once a wk, the leader of the childrens missionary group, a member of the womens missionary group and also help with decorating and planning for special events. I also help care for my elderly grandmother. Believe me I know what you are saying. I am also a bit of a perfectionist and control freak so I handle all the bills, groc. shopping etc. The best advice I can give is get your kids involved with housework if they aren't already, spend any free time you can find studying even if its just a few minutes in the morning before everyone else wakes up. Try to let some things go a little. The end of the world will not come if the floors are not vacuumed or there is dust on the TV. I personally cannot stand clutter so that is my biggest thing. I make sure things are picked up everyday even if there is dust. I feel more organized if there are not things laying around everywhere. If you are married ask him to help if he is not already. My husband will come home from work and cook if I have a test or something. Keep meals simple, and streamline your life. Only do things that are extremely important to you. For me that is church, quality time with my family, school. My children are currently not involved in sports because I simply dont have the time to take them. Remember it is not forever!! It only takes about 2-3yrs to finish an RN program and then you can work a reg. shift and come home. Then you can catch up on all the cleaning, sporting events etc. I hope this helps some. You are not in that boat alone, there are probably lots of us in there with you! If you are religious I would suggest prayer! I pray before I begin studying, and before every test that I will be able to absorb the info needed and I will be able to recall the info when needed. So far I have A's in every class! Good luck!

Rohan · Feb 8, 2006

The house is just not going to be as clean while I'm in school. I spend a couple hours doing some mass cooking for the week during the weekend to save time during the week. My oldest goes to the Boys and Girls club for 2 hours after school while the little one is in daycare to give myself some study time. The kids still have their usual hockey schedules so I study (try to) at the practices. I fold laundry while going over the kids homework. Pretty much just squeeze something into every second of the day, including time for brain rest. I have to do absolutely nothing for at least 30 minutes a day or my brain fries. Good luck! :wink2:

allthingsbright · Feb 8, 2006

I'm a sahm mom too who homeschools-and yeah, its hard. Things I do to save time: I always read my notes right after class--saves study time later cuz I remember stuff. I also nap with the kids in the afternoons when I get a chance and stay up really late the same day cuz its quiet, they sleep, and I study. I also GET OUT of my house to study when possible-dh takes the kids most evenings and I go to the library, starbucks, etc. I am even skipping church at this point cuz DH takes the kids and its quiet around here-I hope God understands!! Let the housework slide a little, or do it on study breaks. I'll stop every thirty minutes and spend 5 minutes cleaning up. It works for me. GL!

sdmommie · Feb 9, 2006

I think delegating jobs is your best bet. Easy meals and casseroles. I got a slow cooker, prepare in the morning...eat later. I take naps when the girls (5 and 1) take naps. It also helped to schedule study time. I just let my husband know when I am not available...Sun 8-11:30am, 3-6pm, and 8-11pm was the norm. I studied at night after the kids went to bed. Do laundry then...gives me a break when I need to change the loads. I clean when I can. Don't try to do everything yourself. It'll make you nuts.

momx4 · Feb 12, 2006

Thank you all for these great tips. I am going to delegate the same daily chores for my older kids,like everyday one is responsible for making sure upstairs bathroom is done just an example. My hubby is great and does help but he is the type the you have to tell what to do. So he is getting a list too,lol. I am going to try to delegate some specific time brackets for studying and family time. That is all I need to do right now. So tonight I am sitting down and making everyone's list so the week starts out fresh and everyone knows what is expected of them.

Thanks again! I love this group!!!!!

Oh I 4got to say I was officially accepted into the nursing program I wanted to attend and those classes will begin in Aug 2006. WHOO_HOO!!!!!!

Stdy2BaNurse · Feb 12, 2006

oh i 4got to say i was officially accepted into the nursing program i wanted to attend and those classes will begin in aug 2006. whoo_hoo!!!!!!

oh, yeah right - you forgot, huh??:rotfl: seriously, congratulations!

i hope to have that kind of news real soon :)

momx4 · Feb 12, 2006

oh, yeah right - you forgot, huh??:rotfl: seriously, congratulations!
i hope to have that kind of news real soon :)

i actually did forget,lol. i have been so overloaded and i know most of my problem was disorganization and i am fixing that right now.

i hope you hear good news also, good luck!

thanks for the congrats!!!!!