Stay Organized
Having a detailed schedule, as if your life depended on it, honestly might be the most helpful thing a student mom can have. It is important to keep your life working as a well-oiled machine, because you never know what life can throw at you. This, of course, won’t be easy as a mom in school (and possibly working on top of it all), but it will help for sure. Give yourself as much room for success and stick to your schedule on a daily basis!
Quality time
Speaking of schedules, make sure you plan for time with your child(ren). It does not have to be anything crazy, it can be as simple as having a bedtime routine during the week or making dinner together. As long as it is a time where you can forget everything else going on and focus on your child(ren). This quality time, no matter how short, will help keep you focus and remind you in the end why you are going back to school, not only for yourself but also to better your child(ren)’s future. Besides, everyone needs to have a little fun here and there and disconnect!
Accept help
This is huge for all the mamas out there! We are all human and need support or help from time to time. Whether it is help from teachers and faculty at school, or coworkers, or family, don’t be afraid to say yes! When you are on campus, there are often many convenient and helpful services. For example, if you find yourself struggling with an assignment, you can ask the teacher for help or go to a student learning center. If you have friends or family near you, ask them if they can keep your kid(s) even if only during study time so you can get a quiet moment. It takes a village!
Time saving Ideas
Since you will be so busy, you will want to maximize your time! School, work and everything else will take up a lot of your time and there is not much you can do to change that. However, you can free up a lot time that reducing the length of certain chores and household activities. Here are a few ideas that could save you time (and possibly money):
- Meal prep for the week during the weekend and freeze food to be thawed and eaten during the week.
- Use public transportation (if available) that way you can get caught up on emails, homework, reading material, etc.
- If old enough, give your child(ren) chores around the house to help.
Keep your energy levels high
If you are just exhausted and physically drained, you cannot possibly study efficiently or apply yourself as a mom or employee. It is important to set yourself up for success and take care of your health. Here are a few tips for you to stay at your best:
- You’ve heard it before, EAT breakfast! It is important to get your day started with some food to boost your energy! Even if it is just some yogurt or a piece of fruit, don’t forget.
- Eat healthy (ish). This can be made possible by planning and cooking food ahead (as mentioned earlier). That way, you will not be pressed to hit a drive-through.
- Go to bed at a decent time and get enough sleep.
- Do something physical every day. Even if it is just stretching in the morning or before bed, your body will thank you for it!
- Don’t ignore your social life. You deserve to have a little bit of fun and relationships.
You totally got this! And we are here to help you get started by finding the right program that fits your lifestyle. Click here to find out more!