5 Tips for College Moms

1) Schedule your time

Every Sunday night, I sit down with my planner and all the syllabi for my classes and I schedule my week. I use one color highlighter for any tests, another for any major assignments, and another for any meetings. Needless to say my planner looks like a clown got ahold of it but it keeps me on track. Knowing what to expect allows John and I to manage our household efficiently. If I have a lot going on one night, we can plan for him to cook that evening or to take on some other time-consuming responsibility for me. This allows me to focus on my school work.

Maybe a colorful and almost overly detailed planner isn’t your thing. That’s fine. Phones have calendars and apps, you can keep track of things in your email calendar, or maybe you like lists. If you’re a day-to-day kind of person, take a few minutes each morning to plan your day. If you like more structure, plan a week at a time. Figure out what works for you and set aside time to plan. “Plan to plan”, as my sister would say.

2) Take care of yourself

                Homework, group projects, papers, tests, and projects are very time-consuming student activities. Being a mom and a wife is a full time job too. Dishes, laundry, bath time, and changing dirty diapers take time. Everyone has times where they feel like they will never get through their to-do list and we need to accept that not completing that list is okay sometimes. You have to take care of yourself. Eat right, get at least seven hours of sleep each night, and exercise. These three things have a drastic impact on your performance and attitude. Sleepy students don’t write good papers and hungry mommies aren’t as much fun. Take care of yourself so you can do your best work in all of your jobs.

                It may sound silly to you but I have a bedtime. Yes, you did read that right. I, a 23 year old, have a bedtime. Provided that all of my homework is done, I am in bed by 10:30 each week night. Whatever household chores aren’t done simply aren’t done. Dishes will be there when I wake in the morning as well as laundry.

3) Be flexible

As much as I stressed planning in tip #1, being flexible is just as important. No matter how great of a planner you are, things come up. Professors assign extra assignments, kids get sick, husbands need errands run for them, something is bound to through off your schedule at some point. It’s not the end of the world. So it took you longer to write a paper than you thought it would and you’re tired but the dishes aren’t done. Go to sleep, rejuvenate, and tackle them in the morning.

4) Ask for help

                Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of maturity and responsibility. If you have a massive pile of homework to get through and cannot concentrate because you are trying to wrangle your kid(s), ask for help. Have your husband, a family member, friend, or neighbor watch them for a few hours so you can finish your school work.

                I try to get all of my assignments done before my daughter and husband are home for the evening but that doesn’t always work so we have to be flexible. We make it a point to eat dinner together each night but then if I have more work to do, I go back to campus. In these cases, my husband takes over bathing Kilynn and putting her to bed. Without his help, I do not know how I would get through school! Single moms and busy parents need to ask for help from family and friends. Grandparents tend to desire time with their grandchildren. Chances are, they won’t mind helping you out. Just ask. The worst that will happen is they say ‘no’ but at least you tried.

5) Use campus resources

                This is similar to the previous ‘ask for help’ tip but this is school-centered. Colleges and universities have several resources for students. Advisors, the Students Affairs office, and departments can direct you to those that will help you. Knowing what kind of help you need makes it easier to find the most valuable resources to you. If you know you struggle writing papers, ask around for a writing center. Tutoring programs are available for most subjects such as math and foreign language. Gyms are typically available with workout equipment and some offer trainers or fitness classes such as Zumba or Pilates. Medical centers are on many campuses for more minor medical concerns such as the flu. If you feel very overwhelmed with any aspect of your life, look in to counseling services. Do not feel embarrassed to take advantage of any of these services. They are there to help you and they wouldn’t exist if other students didn’t use them too. Remember, even though your situation may be a little different than most of your peers, you are not the only one who struggles. These services ease the pressure on you and many times they are free of charge to students. Take advantage.