Tips on getting school work done

[dancingflower]

Hi MDC student parents, tell me your hot tips. I'm in school for my BS in Early Childhood Education. I had my baby last semester and I'm going back full time now that he's 6 months. I also work twice a week.

I have arrangements for child care (DH or family) and schedule but my worry is more of an intellectual presence. Can I do interrupted reading? Can I think of my papers while working, cleaning, biking to work/school... can I sit and write a lil bit at a time? What kind of studying habits should I incorporate?

Please tell me your strategies to be a good student while being an attached parent. Tell me anything that works for you. Even if my life or LO may be different from yours, I think that a peak into other people's solutions may enlighten (even inspire) me.

Thanks in advance!!!

[MsVyky]

subbing. I don't have tips, but I could sure use them. I haven't been able to finish a book since DD was born.

[Gator-mom]

I really try to schedule specific study time. I'm a nursing student, so there are certain subjects that I really need no distractions so I can concentrate. So I will try to set it up so that I can stay at school or have ds out of the house for a few hours so I can get a chunk of studying down. It's a good idea to make a regular habit of it. For me I have Ds go to a daycare for a full day. So I will have classes for a few hours, and then I will try to use the rest of that time to study or write papers or whatever. If possible, sometimes its better to study out of the house too. If I'm home, I might be tempted to like do the dishes or something instead of actually study. I also really utilize nap time and bed time. Since your LO is only 6 month, maybe you he will be happy in a jumper or a exersaucer for awhile?

The other thing I do that has been pivotal to my success is that I micromanage my time. I make sure I have everything i need to do on a planner, and then I make specific windows of time to work on those things. My Dh is also in school full time so we do a lot of swapping for each other. If I have a lot going on, he'll be more of the full time parent, and visa versa.

Anyway good luck! And good for you for heading back to school!!

[namaste_mom]

As a professor, I have a similar situation. I have tons of demands on my time teaching, research, family and not enough time to go around. Similar to the previous poster, I micro manage my time and take advantage of small breaks in time. I keep a running list of what has to be done. I use Microsoft Outlook to manage my tasks and my daily calendar. Everything is put on that calendar from picking up kids to departmental meetings to time for me to exercise. I am ruled by that calendar. However, this is the only way I can squeeze any time to get everything done.