Most online learners are now women, and her average age is 37. Most of
these women are married with children, making it incredibly difficult
to find the time to do anything for themselves. If this sounds
like you,
you are not alone. Working full time, raising kids and trying
to continue your education is possible with careful planning. You and
your family will need to learn to compromise, and very often you will
also need to be able to learn to deal with the guilt of never having
enough time.
Women often find themselves as sacrificing a
great time of their time and energy to their families. Women are still
considered the primary care givers to children, making it increasingly
difficult to juggle child rising and work. Throw college into the mix
and these woman wonder if they will ever sleep again.
Part of
finding balance is learning to compromise. Learning to say no for many
people is very difficult. You need to learn to appreciate your own time
as an asset, and accept that there will be people unhappy with your
decision to spend time studying instead of another activity. It can be
incredibly difficult to find balance between goals that you find very
important.
Caroline, a single mom of 29, often feels pressure
to spend more time with her children. “There are times when I just want
to quit and spend time with my son, but I know that I’ll be done with
my Associates degree soon, and I’ll have a better job, and I can spend
more time with him then.” Caroline is able to pursue her degree,
because her older sister takes care of her son after work. Building a
strong network will help you balance the demands of family, work and
school.
Don’t lose sight of the long term goal of getting a
college degree. You and your family will benefit tremendously from your degree.
Tips to add balance to your life:
- Don’t dwell on guilt. If you find yourself feeling guilty, do something productive to change the way you feel.
- Stick to a task list and schedule.
- Remember that it’s okay to say no once in awhile.
- Get enough rest, eat right, and don’t neglect exercise.