The thought of going back to school can be difficult for someone who has been out of school for a while, and almost painful for those of us with a child or two. Life is tough enough when you work, have a family and have to also clean the house, do the laundry and cook dinner each night. Just the idea of adding one more piece to our already overfilled life can be daunting at best.
If you are really interested in going back to school but you just don’t know how you would fit it in your already hectic life, here are a few tips that might help.
First, get everyone on board, from your husband or significant other if you have one to your friends and extended family members. Chances are that someone will offer to baby sit if they know that you are trying to go back to college, and it is likely people will help with other tasks, such as cleaning your house or picking up your laundry, as well.
Secondly, see if you can take classes online. Online courses are great as they allow you to do the work when you have time. Oftentimes all of the information you need is found on the computer and you never have to leave the house. The downside? No one is there to make you study, so there is no one to blame if you don’t go to that computer and get the work done. If you have trouble with self motivation, this may not be the best option for you.
Thirdly, check with your job to see if there is any flexibility in the working schedule that would enable you to set up a better schedule conducive to school. Perhaps you can work late one day a week if the class that you need meets in the morning. If you can financially afford to do so you might also consider going part time for a while so that you can take more classes and finish sooner. If the job that you have will benefit from your getting a new degree, they may be very interested in accommodating your class schedule to help you finish sooner.
Finally, be realistic. Going to school with children and work is tough. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Set one day a weekend to get work done, but then take a fun day with the family as well. You can’t work one hundred-percent of the time and be happy; it’s just not possible. Give yourself a break and remember that you are doing what is best for your career and your family, and that you will have to sacrifice a bit as you do it. But in the long run, your hard work will pay off!