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| Photo credit, thanks to Unsplash |
Having babies is
tough. Raising kids even harder. Looking after a house and organising everyone’s time is hectic and
stressful. Most of us also look back on our school days as being difficult,
tiring and often overwhelming. And yet more women than ever are now choosing to
take on higher education while they are raising young children, and maybe even
holding down a job.
On paper, this can sound
crazy. Surely there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. But, it can be
well worth it. Going back to school has many benefits, and the skills that you have picked up while
looking after your family can be put to good use in your search for knowledge.
Going back to school
can enrich your life. It can give you something away from the home and
challenge your mind. It can help you to rediscover yourself away from your
family and give you an enormous confidence boost. It can provide you with
career options, both now and in the future, and perhaps most importantly,
returning to education can set a fantastic example to your children.
Despite all of these
advantages, there can be no denying that it is going to be tough. You’re going
to have trying times, it may wear you down and stress you out. You are going
to have to work hard and battle for what you want, but, if further education is
what you want then nothing can stop you.
Here are some tips to help you to manage
it all -
Make Sure It’s What
You Want
Higher education is expensive and time-consuming. It certainly isn’t something that you should rush
into without careful consideration. Make sure you find a course that you really
want to study and don’t rush into anything on a whim. If it’s not what you
really want, you won’t stick to it, and you’ll give up at the first hurdle.
Make sure it’s what you want, and you know why you are doing it before you get
started.
Explore Your Options
Many mums find that
an online course from Aston Online University is much easier to manage than a
traditional in school course. It gives you a chance to work more flexibly
around your family, and without having to worry about travelling to set classes
at set times.
Of course, this isn’t
your only option. You could study online, in school, part-time, at night school
and even with vocational courses via your current job. Fully explore your
options to find one that suits you and your family.
Bring Your Mum Skills
into Play
If you’ve taken time
away from work to have your children, you might feel as though there’s a pretty hefty gap in your CV, and like your brain has been lying stagnant. But, this couldn’t be
further from the truth, raising children and managing a household is tough, and
you’ll have developed countless skills to help you in your studies. You’ll be
organised, efficient, and excellent at coping under stress amongst other things.
Bring all of these skills into play, and you’ll be fine.
Manage Your Money
One of the biggest
concerns about further education is the cost. Of course, not all courses cost
the same, but if yours is expensive, it’s essential that you find ways to manage your money and take care of your finances or you’ll always be worried and won't be able to study well.
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| Photo credit, thanks to Unsplash |
Plan Ahead as Much as
You Can
Studying is always
tough, and you’ll always be busy. But, not all of your days will be the same.
Try to plan ahead as much as you can. If you’ve got big exams and assignments
coming up, try to arrange childcare to give yourself some study time. If the
kids have got a lot going on, or there are important dates in your diary, plan
your time so that you haven't got work to complete at the same time.
Adjust Your Focus
As a mum, you might
be guilty of trying to do everything. You like your house to be clean, your
kids to stick to routines, and your meals to be healthy and filling.
But, while you are studying, not all of these things will be possible, all of
the time. A clean house is great, but is it worth it if you are so stressed out
that you can’t enjoy it? Would a day in front of the TV really hurt the kids?
Adjust your focus, and let your standards slide when you need to.
Look After Yourself
To give yourself the
best chance of success, you need to look after yourself. Exercise, eat well, get plenty of sleep and fresh air, and give yourself time off when you need it. Work hard,
but not so hard that you make yourself ill. Remember, it’s OK to ask for help
from other people when you need it.
Lean on Your Faith
Make a Vision Board
A vision board is
literally a board for your visions for the future. Filled with pictures, quotes
and affirmations all related to your hopes and dreams. It can be done online
with something like Canva and set as your screens saver, printed out and stuck
somewhere that you can see it, or even just drawn with pen and paper. Fill it
with things that you hope to achieve. Pictures of what you want from the year ahead,
and where you hope your studies will take you, but also things that you want to
do with your family.
Write down quotes that inspire you and push you forward,
and some of your targets for the years ahead. Whenever you are feeling doubts,
or like you are too tired to carry on, take a look at your vision board and
remind yourself of what’s important and that it will all be worth it in the
end.
Good luck with your decision. I did my MA when I had a toddler and was pregnant with the twins and I don't regret a minute of it!
