Finding and Maintaining Balance

Many people who transition back to school have other responsibilities that need to be maintained. triOS courses can sometimes be as short as just a week, so it is important to create a plan that will allow you to get everything done to the best of your ability.

Create a list of everything to accomplish in your week. Be sure to include any deadlines you might have for projects and also make note of days when you will be writing tests. Think about other responsibilities you have around those times that could cause a conflict. Can these be rescheduled or canceled, or can someone cover for you?

Once you have done this, decide on priorities so that you can devote as much time as needed to each task. This will help you attain your goals and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

As with work life, it is necessary to allow yourself time as a student to decompress and do things you enjoy. If all of your day is filled by class time, studying, and other duties, this will soon weigh upon you and the quality of your work will suffer. Remember to include breaks throughout the day that will both refresh and keep you alert.

Take advantage of times when you are “not doing anything” (e.g. waiting in line at the grocery store or at the laundromat) to do assigned reading or studying.

Food and Exercise

We all know about—and maybe were at one time—students who fill themselves full of caffeine and sugar in order to stay awake and get papers done on time. This is really not a healthy practice and can be especially hard on a person’s body in middle age.

Make sure to include intervals for exercise, even if it is just going for a 15-minute walk every day. Also, pack your diet full of “brain food” that will give you the energy and mental agility to make the most of every day. These may seem like small things compared to studying, but they can make a huge difference! Revisiting these pointers is important for when you transition back to school after a long time — it’s human nature to forget!

Work with Your Fellow Students and Instructors

There is a good chance that other students in your class have similar time management questions. Talk to them and learn about what is or is not working for them.

Also, get together with your fellow pupils outside of class to help each other with studying or quizzes. It might also be possible to for them to assist you in ways that would allow more time for course work.

Your teacher is also here to help! Be sure to ask them for clarification on anything you don’t fully understand. The instructor can also offer advice on the best ways to maximize your time in class.