Any tips for staying sane / keeping balance? :)

[danalk88]

I'm SO close to the end, but I feel myself unraveling. Any tips for keep sanity and balance?

I discovered Instacert and this forum at the tail end of my degree. So I've been doing a bricks and mortar program tailored for working adults--and paying for it I might add. I started adding in the Dantes/DSST last fall, picking it up at the beginning of the year. My goal is to graduate in May, so I can just enjoy my summer for the first time in years! Since the beginning of the year I've gained 16 credits between the brick and mortar and Dantes. Plus working full time, boyfriend, friends, family... I know: wah, wah, wah.

My sanity is quickly disintegrating. I'm sure other people have had their moments or breakdowns? Any tips for keeping it together?

I have one brick and mortar class and two Dantes planned between now and the end of April. I know I'll finish... I'm just trying not to make the lives of the people around me too miserable in the process.

[cookderosa]

go rewrite your resume with your new degree on it.

[ryoder]

Spend less time with friends and family. Also spend less time watching TV and surfing the web.
This is how I kept my sanity and completed my degree on my schedule. Nobody will fault you for putting your nose to the grindstone to complete your education.

[marianne202]

I agree with Jennifer to focus on the goal and finish line. Just realize that you will be able to call yourself a college grad before long and that is a great motivator. I hit many walls along my journey and I see my students hit similar walls and find that focusing on the end result and how it might change my life is a great way to get out from under all the day to day stuff. Good luck, soon all your hard work will be hanging on your wall!

[sanantone]

I'm the type of person that gets overwhelmed by long-term projects. If you're that type, I suggest focusing on little milestones. It was easier for me to digest doing one or two tests the next week instead of focusing on the fact I had several tests to complete before the application deadline. Using IC certainly does reduce study time if you're the type that does well with flashcards. Once I knew I only needed IC for most exams, my study time went down to about two days per test.

[ShotoJuku]

[danalk88]

I'll admit I've really had a hard time with the friends/family thing. Hard to make that boundary. Always feel guilty.

Thanks for all the good advice.