Surviving School as a Parent
Being a parent is hard work. Add the additional stress of being a military spouse and then pile school on top of it all and you’re in for an uphill hike. The good news is that online programs have made education much more flexible, allowing you to fit school in around everything else you already have going on. But even with that flexibility (and sometimes because of it), it can still be downright tricky to balance it all.
To give you a few survival tips, I’ve polled our CareerStep instructors to gather some of the advice they share with our students and added a little of my own insight on what works for me as a work-at-home parent (which really isn’t all that different from being a study-at-home mom).
Practice Makes Perfect
First, it’s important to remember that, just like any other learned skill, you may not be great at studying at home right off the bat. Remember—this is a skill set that you’re developing, and with enough patience and practice, you can find the groove that works best for you and your family. Take it a day at a time, be patient and forgiving, and just keep trying.
Develop a Schedule
Whether your training program assigns your study schedule or you create one yourself, scheduling designated study time is a great way to maximize your productivity. A study schedule sets limits so that the next time you’re tempted to throw in a load of laundry, chat with a friend, or really do anything other than study, it’s easy to sit back and say, “Wait a minute. I’m at school right now, I’ll do [insert activity] when I’ve finished or take a break.” So schedule your study time, and stick to it.
Find a Workspace
This is something that helps me tremendously as a work-at-home parent and could also work well for study-at-home parents. Having a specific spot to keep my laptop, all of my papers/scribbles, and everything else that goes with my job, not only contains the mess, but also helps me focus. It’s much easier to temporarily put the day-to-day responsibilities of my house and family on the back burner and concentrate on getting my work done in my little “office.” (And don’t think you need a separate room to have an office—mine is a tiny table in a corner of our basement.)
Set Daily Goals
I’m a list person. I love the feeling of accomplishment I get marking things off my to-do list. Setting daily goals helps me be more productive because I’m focused on the most important things that need to get done that day. You can apply this same strategy to your school work. Set daily, weekly, and monthly study goals and then reward yourself when you reach them. This is a great way to ensure you stay on track and put in the time you need to each and every day.
Going to school from home, especially as a parent, can be so difficult because, in our homes, there are so many other things vying for our attention. The trick is finding what works for you and your family and sticking to it.
