Distance Learning and Time Organization

[MrsAprilMay]

Looks like I'm joining your mamas! We've decided that I'm going to try to finish school. To start out, I'm taking one class online at my local community college. If that works out, then I'll go full time in Fall and finish my last 2 classes in Winter.

So my question is, how do you keep up with the distance learning? Do you have a special time each day or a day each week you concentrate on school. Do you study while the kids are napping or sleeping? DD isn't much for naps anymore. My fear is that if I put it off until the kids are in bed then I'll just get sleepy and put it off. (As I post on MDC @ 1am...)

I really want this to work. Any advice is appreciated!

[calendula]

If you're worried about being too tired at the end of the day, then try to get up a couple of hours before everyone else. I know it sounds horrible but I found after a week or 2 of this I got into a routine. My body just naturally woke up and I felt really good and less stressed knowing that my studying was out of the way.

For real crunch times like big papers etc. try to get a babysitter or someone who will guarantee you several hours or a day of quiet. It would be good to start interviewing people now so that you are all set up if the need arises.

Good luck.

[azjen43]

I am also about to make this transition. My job ends the end of April and my first two on-line classes start around the same time. Here's what I'm planning to do:

First off, get my physical work space organized. We have a fairly large home office, but it has become a catch-all for all the junk in our house that has nowhere else to go. I need a clutter-free environment to work (My office at work is small, but well organized) so that's my first order of business.

Second, I plan on putting myself on a fairly strict schedule: Walking DD to the school bus at 7:45 (It's right at the end of our cul de sac, literally 30 seconds from out front door) A quick walk, run, or dip in the pool, then at the computer by 9:00 AM each weekday. I think I will need to approach my day like this as much as I can. In addition, I will be (hopefully) taking on more doula clients, so there will be days when I have scheduled client visits and also births, which of course can't be scheduled. I will continue to teach Bradley classes on Sunday evenings, which have become DH and DDs special night together.

Once school is out for summer, DD will go to day camp 3 mornings a week, but other than that, she will be home mostly, so I forsee having less quiet time during the day and may switch to doing the majority of school work in the evenings when DH is at home. We'll see.

Come fall, I will be in a full-time, (days) bricks and mortar school and doing homework in the evenings. I'm taking student loans then, so I won't have to do doula work or any teaching for the entirety of my nursing program (2 yrs)

Thanks for your post. This is actually the first time I have written my ideas about doing on-line school. It helps me to clarify my thoughts. I'd love to read what other have done/are doing.

Good luck with your program!