8 Tips for the Successful Mom-Student
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We all know how stressful motherhood can be. Whether you’ve recently given birth, or you’re running around after toddlers, it can feel like there’s never enough time in the day to do anything for yourself. For busy moms who are looking to go back into education, the idea of committing to a course can be challenging, however, knowing the right tips and tricks can help you both be a mother and a student without running yourself into the ground. To help make things easier, here are 8 tips to be a successful mom-student.
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Have a Detailed Schedule
If you’ve chosen to go back into education, trying to find the time for studying can be hard. It pays to be organized, so creating a schedule can be a huge help, enabling you to stay on track with your learning without too many distractions. For example, if you’re a stay at home mom and your kids are of school age, this gives you the window of opportunity to do some studying while your little ones are out of the house. No one said it was going to be easy, so if you’re struggling to juggle motherhood with education, having a schedule and sticking to it can help keep you focused and on track with your learning.
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Factor in Quality Time
Understandably, your kids will always come first, so it’s important to factor in some quality time with you and your children. No matter the age of your offspring, there are plenty of bonding opportunities that you can have while in the midst of studying, such as the bedtime routine. If you plan to do all your learning at the weekend, make sure to set a couple of hours aside on a Saturday and Sunday that can be used to spend time with the kids, whether you head out to the park, library, or have a family film day at home.
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Find a Quiet Space
When you have young children running around the household, it’s likely that it will be noisy from time to time! To get the most out of your learning, it’s important to find a space in the home that’s quiet so that you can be away from any distractions which can interfere with your studies. Once you’ve found an area for some much-needed peace and quiet, you should also switch off your cell phone and resist the urge to scroll through social media. As a mom-student, time is precious, so once you’ve got the opportunity to get your head down into your textbooks, try and make the most of it!
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Have the Right Mindset
If you aren’t in the right frame of mind to study, it’s best to leave it for another day, rather than try and learn when you’re not at your best. Whether you’ve been kept up all night with the kids, or you have a mountain of household chores to do, the thought of learning will likely be the last thing on your mind. Going into learning with a positive mindset can make a huge difference, helping you to stay on track with your coursework. Having self-belief in yourself will help you strive for perfection, so being upbeat and positive about your studies can help you work to the best of your potential.
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Keep the Kids Occupied
It’s likely that you will have times where you need to get some work done with the kids around. To help you stay focused, why not set your child up with an activity that can keep them occupied? Many children like a challenge, so getting them to draw a picture for you will mean that you can both get stuck in without any interruptions.
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Use Your Support Network
Having a support network around you can be a huge help when studying. If you live close to family members and friends, why not enlist their help to your advantage? Getting someone to come by and look after the kids will mean you can focus on your studies without any distractions. Trying to run a busy household while staying committed to education can be tough, so having your nearest and dearest around can help reduce stress levels as well as give you a shoulder to cry on. If things get too much, you need to remember all the advantages that your studying will bring long-term, and that you’re only doing it to benefit your children. It can be hard to ask for help, but when it comes to getting the grades you want, having a helping hand nearby is crucial.
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Have Some ‘Me Time’
As a mom-student, the last thing you want is to suffer from burnout. Keeping a close eye on the kids, running daily errands, as well as cramming in some studying can soon take its toll, so it’s important that you factor in some time for yourself too. Whether it’s by going for a long walk around your neighborhood, running a hot bath, or practicing relaxation techniques like yoga, we all need some space from time to time, so try not to feel guilty about having some me time. If you’re prone to high stress levels, it can be all too easy to fall at the first hurdle when it comes to studying, so allowing yourself some treats along the way can help keep you on the straight and narrow.
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Study Online!
No matter what sort of course you want to do, you will be happy to know that there are tons of online courses that you can complete from the comfort of your own home, enabling you to juggle motherhood and education much easier. For example, Kettering University Online provide a range of courses such as a masters in supply chain management online which you can study for around your children. Studying online also means you don’t have to factor in commute time, giving you more space in your schedule to fit everything in.
Having a detailed schedule in place, factoring in quality time with your children, having a strong support network around you, as well as allowing yourself some much needed ‘me’ time are just a few top tips on how to be a successful mom-student.
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