Manage yourself, not time

I would really like to return to school and finish my bachelor’s degree but I am worried about how I will balance my professional, work and academic life.

Many adult students wonder how they will be able to juggle all of their current responsibilities and those demanded of a university degree program. If you have spent any length of time in the working world you have heard the term “time management.” But it’s unrealistic to think that time can truly be “managed.”

Instead, think in terms of managing yourself. This is a skill. With that notion, you certainly can learn to devote the time necessary to complete your degree while attending to the many areas of your life that require attention.

The first consideration is to choose a university with a degree program that accommodates the needs of working adult students. You will need easy access to home, work and school. It also might be helpful to look at how you currently spend your time during the day. Make a list of all you activities and note the number of hours you allocate to each.

For example, your list might include the time you spend commuting to work, how many breaks you take during the day, number of hours watching television or movies, reading, cooking, housework, shopping, home maintenance – you get the idea. Be honest with yourself and account for everything. Then, look at where you might be able to cut back. Everyone wastes time so find these areas. Learn how to sacrifice leisure time for study time. Even 15 minutes is a great deal of time if you can use it on school work. Cross off things like waxing the car and landscaping the yard. These things can wait.

Next, it is important to be highly organized. List things to-do with timelines, deadlines and priorities which will help you not to forget what needs to be done. This list will include your class schedule, class meetings, projects, research, exams, work assignments and family time. Breaking things down into small steps and timelines will keep you on track and feeling less overwhelmed.

Identify your best time for studying. Are you a morning or afternoon person? Choose the best time when you can concentrate well. Use your down time for less demanding tasks. That said, study the most difficult subjects first when you are fresh. This will save you time in the long run.

Distributed learning and practice means studying in shorter time blocks with shorter breaks in between which will keep you from getting tired. Even when you are taking a break, your brain is processing the information.

Being an adult student can be a wonderful and enriching experience. There are a number of resources available to help you manage your time wisely. Start slowly to retrain the brain to study and by managing yourself, you will find the time to you need to devote to your studies. And remember, returning to school is only for a short period of defined time.