Five Ways Busy Adult Students Can Master the Balancing Act

March 4th, 2019

By Katelyn Elrod

It is 11:57 p.m., and you are rushing to upload your essay to Dropbox before it closes in two minutes. You hear the pitter-patter of the feet of a four-year-old who absolutely cannot sleep another minute until she chugs a glass of water. Suddenly, the washing machine beeps, demanding that you immediately put your work shirt into the dryer.

If a night like this sounds familiar, you may be a working parent in school. If your life feels like an endless balancing act, try applying these five tips:

Use organizational techniques that work for you

Organization: it is fun for some and miserable for others. Love it or hate it, organization is necessary in some form, especially if you are a working parent in school.

The good news is that organization doesn’t necessarily mean color coding and block scheduling. Organization is different for everyone, so the sooner you learn to embrace organizational techniques that work for you, the easier it will be to juggle work, family, and school.

Perhaps purchasing a $35 planner and filling in due dates and step-by-step breakdowns of assignments is your jam. Maybe typing reminders in the notes section of your phone keeps you on track. You may even be a write-it-on-your-hand type of student. Everyone functions differently, so find what works for you and stick to it. (And only buy the $35 planner if you are actually going to use it!)

Curious about your organization style? Take a quiz and get tips on what techniques work best for you.

Get creative with time management

Now that you know your organization style, it is important to manage your time so that you meet every deadline and accomplish every task on your schedule. Organization is pointless unless you make time to do the tasks you need to do.

First, you must know yourself. If the 7 a.m. version of you is a jumbled mess, don’t do anything that isn’t necessary in the morning. However, if 7 a.m. you is clear-headed and wakes up to singing birds like Snow White, aim to get a little schoolwork done before you start your day. If you work better at night, try scheduling study time in the evening.

Also, it is essential to remember to be flexible. Days packed full of family and work events often mean doing schoolwork in short stints. Some days, you may need to squeeze in study time while sitting in the car at your daughter’s soccer practice or do your class reading while on the elliptical. On the days you have long stretches free of work and family obligations, schedule time to work on assignments that require extended periods of focus.

Take breaks like you mean it

We live in a culture in which being busy is a bragging right. As a result, people often feel ashamed of taking time for themselves. However, those who take regular breaks from working or studying see increases in productivity, focus, and energy when they work.

I know what you’re thinking: “How am I supposed to find time to rest while juggling family, work, and school? I barely have time to eat!” In a perfect world, all breaks would look like full days of only doing your favorite activities and eating your favorite foods. However, in your world, a break may look like spending the last half hour of your day reading a novel, listening to a podcast, or watching TV. In other words, take a little time to do something you truly enjoy every day.

Most importantly, take these breaks like you mean it. A break isn’t a break if you are thinking about the essay due tomorrow or the Paw Patrol-themed birthday party you’re planning for your very particular five-year-old. Breaks are about physical rest, but they are about mental and emotional rest, too. Make time for high-quality breaks. Your body and brain will thank you.

Apply what you learn in your courses

Humans have a tendency to compartmentalize. Throughout your day, you likely find yourself traveling between the spheres of work, school, and family. It is natural to keep these areas of your life separate, but it is beneficial to find ways they relate. It is especially helpful to apply your course material to other spheres of your life.

Connecting what you have been learning in school to daily life helps you better understand course material and manage situations at work and home. Though worrying about an Intro to Psychology assignment will not help you when a coworker refuses to cooperate on a project, understanding the possible motivations behind the coworker’s behavior may help you handle the conflict. Stressing over your Personal Finance midterm will not relieve money problems at home, but applying money-handling techniques discussed in the course could improve your financial situation.

It is easy to forget that school is not simply about learning things in order to get good grades or a degree – it is about learning concepts that can help you in every area of your life. As cheesy as it sounds, knowledge really is power.

Value every moment

When life feels like one long to-do list, it can be tempting to shuffle through a task or moment quickly so that you can check it off and move on down the list. Not only does this mindset rob you of taking time to celebrate the small victory of completing one task, but it also robs you of cherishing and learning from every moment.

Though you may not be surprised to find yourself rushing through tasks related to work and school, you may be shocked to find yourself doing this with family experiences. Tucking your kid into bed can feel like a hassle when you need to take an online quiz before midnight. However, if you constantly think about the next mission to complete, you will miss the moments that make life worth living.

Making pancakes with your spouse, getting feedback from your boss, studying for a final exam – each of these experiences is special in its own way. In every moment, aim to be present, find value, and learn something new. This mindset will make balancing responsibilities less stressful and help you see the benefit of each part of your day.