Being a parent requires a lot of dedication and patience, especially when you think of it as a full-time job. Without a doubt, combining studying and parenting is a real challenge that does not have easy solutions. Is it possible to satisfy the needs of your kid and succeed at studies without having a nervous breakdown? Anything’s possible if you have a genuine desire to make it work and are aware of effective strategies.
The role of a student means trying to meet short deadlines for numerous assignments, which often leads to stress and frustration. However, you can always get help from online experts and buy presentations to manage assignments faster, but you can’t buy more time with your children as they grow up.
Sometimes, you need to find the best possible solution to stay on top of your studies without depriving your children and yourself of having fun together. Let’s explore the things you can do to keep such a healthy balance.
It’s All About the Perfect Timing
Creating a schedule with specific time slots for studying and personal time is a cornerstone of your success. If some of your academic tasks seem too overwhelming, break them down into less frightening parts and manage them gradually.
When you are in the process of choosing a course, consider part-time programs that give you more time to spend with your kids. Looking for evening or weekend classes can be a convenient way to balance out your life.
You can also familiarize yourself with time management techniques to make your studying more organized. The Pomodoro technique seems to be helpful in managing assignments, as it requires you to work in 25-minute intervals, which seems feasible. Maybe you can take advantage of your kids’ nap times and use quiet moments to focus on your studies.
Ask for Help Whenever Needed
It is always reassuring to know there is someone who can support you when you are exhausted. If you have a partner to help you, try to divide household chores or childcare duties equally with them. Also, you can occasionally ask family members and friends to help you with chores like cooking, shopping, etc., if they are not eager to sit with your children while you are in school.
Remember that you are not alone and there are many parents out there who are trying to get their dream diplomas. You can connect with them to learn from each other’s insights and experiences. Ask your peers for advice and look into government programs or scholarships together to get financial aid if necessary.
Focus on Efficient Habits
You should not forget that it’s the 21st century, and you can benefit from using modern technology. You can explore educational apps that will help you improve specific skills or get a better understanding of a complex topic.
For instance, you can download apps to test yourself and strengthen your memory while preparing for exams. Many free tools can be useful when it comes to checking your papers for plagiarism and grammatical errors. Additionally, apps can limit distractions by blocking non-academic resources while you work on an important project.
Keep It Real
The more realistic expectations you set, the less disappointment and discouragement there will be in your life. It’s impossible to be perfect, and things won’t always go according to plan.
Therefore, it’s good to be ready to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances. Adjust your schedule to avoid burnout whenever necessary. There can be a lot of fun in spontaneity and unplanned moments, especially when you get to spend more time with your family.
Take Care of Yourself
Even though your children are a major focus, you should always prioritize self-care. Just think of the wise instructions of flight attendants – put your oxygen mask on first and only then put it on your children. Therefore, ensure you get enough sleep (or at least some sleep to get you through the day) and eat healthy food. It is also crucial to find the most suitable way for you to relax and reduce stress. Choose practices that do not require a lot of time but bring you the desired results.
Celebrating your progress is also one of the ways of taking care of yourself. Acknowledge your achievements, even when they are smaller than you expected. You still did a great job. To stay motivated, remind yourself of the reasons why you are doing all of this from time to time.
Overcome Guilt and Self-Doubt
You might feel guilty about not being able to devote more time to your children or studies. Additionally, you can doubt your ability to succeed as both a parent and a student. That is why practicing self-compassion is something that just has to be on your schedule. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend. Challenge negative thoughts and ask yourself whether you base them on facts or assumptions. Doing so helps you get back in the present moment and look at the situation objectively.
The bottom line is that you should always look for opportunities to support yourself instead of blaming yourself for doing less than the ideal parent. Ideal parents do not exist. However, you can become the one who manages to reach academic goals while taking care of your children, which is already a heroic achievement in today’s reality.
