What did/does your daily schedule look like?

[mrs.b]

A post by a new member made me think and realize a lot of the nervousness and skepticism of completing a degree while working and managing family / life commitments stems from the uncertainty of how to fit in academics with normal adult life. I thought those of us that are doing it or have done it could share daily schedules and time management plans, to show how there is definitely enough room in a 24-hour day for life commitments as well as study time to complete a degree with adult responsibilities.

What do you do to squeeze in study time with your normal daily schedule?

[mrs.b]

I'll start.

Of the 63 credits I completed last year, 33 of them were from courses (3 courses per term) while the other 30 were from tests and self-paced ACE courses that were done on top of those (averaging another 3 tests/ACE courses per term). Here's what worked for me:

1. Monday-Thursday
   

• 6:30AM-7:15AM - Wake, get ready, get kiddo ready
  
• 7:15AM-8:00AM - Kiddo to school, self to work
  
• 8:00AM-5:00PM - Work
  
• 5:00PM-6:00PM - Pick kiddo up, go home
  
• 6:00PM-7:00PM - Make and eat dinner with family
  
• 7:00PM-8:30PM - Dishes, laundry, clean a few rooms each night (kitchen/dining on Mon, living/office on Tues, both bathrooms on Wed, kiddo/parent bedrooms on Thurs)
  
• 8:30PM-9:00PM - Read with kiddo, tuck him in
  
• 9:00PM-11:00PM - homework/papers/study for actual courses
  
• 11:00PM-11:20PM - workout
  
• 11:20PM-11:40PM - post-workout snack while reviewing CLEP/DSST/ECE study materials
  
• 11:40PM-12:00AM - shower/ready for bed
  
• 12:00AM-6:30AM - sleep
  

Friday
(Same as Mon-Thurs from 6:30AM-9:00PM, where for cleaning I would go back over the previously-cleaned rooms for spot cleaning)

• 9:00PM-12:00AM - homework/papers/study for actual courses
  
• 12:00AM-1:00AM - (same as 11M-12:AM Mon-Thu)
  

Saturday-Sunday

• Wake whenever mood strikes me (or 6AM if kiddo had a say)
  
• 11:00AM-12:00PM - Get showered and moving for the day
  
• 12:00PM-3:00PM - Grocery shopping, errands
  
• 3:00PM-5:00PM - Take care of household things hubby had not yet done, whether it's mowing grass, or spot cleaning around house that's needed
  
• 5:00PM-9:00PM - homework/papers/study for actual courses
  
• 9:00PM-10:00PM - workout
  
• 10:00PM-12:00AM - post-workout snack while reviewing CLEP/DSST/ECE study materials
  
• 12:00AM-1:00AM - shower, sit down with hubby and spend a few minutes catching up / watching TV / read a book for fun / whatever
  
• 1:00AM - whenever - sleep
  

The daily time for doing homework/papers/study for actual courses is where I could get flexible, because not all days needed the full amount of time. I might actually be able to sit down with my hubby, turn on the television, or start and take more time for my workout and/or CLEP time early and take a bit of extra time. Some days, I needed more time than was budgeted, so everything behind it got pushed back. Most days, I went to bed later than scheduled because I'd put in a bit more time on CLEP study, spend an extra 15 or 20 minutes on the treadmill, whatever. Some days, the plan got tossed out the window altogether because I was sick, or my son was having a hard time in school and needed Mommy to help with homework because Daddy's methods weren't getting him there, or something else cropped up...or I just was not in the mood and would give myself a day of rest, tossing cleaning, studying, and everything out the window. In fact, I typically did that once a week on a random day, just to give myself some unwind time. So long as it did not become a repeated daily event, throwing away the schedule one day a week did not create any major catastrophes.

[JohnnyHeck]

mrs.b, Thanks for sharing the details that you have dedicated for yourself to follow your dreams. Your motivation is very inspiring. But on behalf of many of us, I would like to ask: Have you always been this motivated/goal oriented? What changed in your life to make it possible now? Have you got anyone else helping to push/keep you on track, or do you have to do all yourself? What is the one daily key to keeping it up day after day after day?

Good luck and thanks for all your generous posts!

[LaterBloomer]

Mrs. B, I'm complaining 'cause I can't get my mind wrapped around stats, and get 6 other credits before 6/30. Just reading your post should motivate me, but it just makes me tired.

As for my schedule? Anything motivated by desperation and/or panic.

[mrs.b]

JohnnyHeck, it wasn't motivated/goal oriented. I referred to it as impatient, but my driver was two-part. First, I know myself well enough to know if I took much time to get it done, I would get bored, lose interest, get distracted by something shiny elsewhere, and quit (again; this was my fourth time trying to finish a degree of any kind). Second, I was using Financial Aid to fund the courses on the front-end, and after a bad run-in with the TESC Fin Aid department to get the first year started (have I mentioned elsewhere they are The Devil?), developed a financial plan that would've put me in real debt if I took too long to pay it off due to the loan interest accrual outbalancing the investment interest/growth where my cash was sitting. But I have always been that impatient, so...nothing changed, LOL. My husband helped with some household tasks (he handled the kiddo upkeep things so my time with our son was quality/fun, cleaned the rest of the house not on my to-do list, typically handled/es yard work, took care of after-dinner cleanup and honestly cooked most meals - I had the time budgeted "in case," but he often did it), but if you mean did he encourage me to stay on task...no, he encouraged me more often than not to take a day off. I knew my schedule, upcoming assignments, deadlines, so on, and knew whether or not I had the time to slack off. As I said at the end, I did take at least one day a week where the schedule got tossed and I just relaxed for an evening or weekend day. It wasn't all work or study during every waking hour. In retrospect, could've squeezed much more in with a different course/test mix (less courses, more tests). In short, my method was "be really diligent for a short period of time (one year)...or need to maintain diligence for an extended period of time by letting it drag out." Lacking any form of patience or long-term motivation, I had to get it done quick or knew I would quit yet again.

LaterBloomer, what issues are you having with Stats? I really do recommend the Intro to Statistics book by Weiss (any out of date edition for best pricing). It's what was used for the TESC course, and an instructor wasn't needed. It walked you through the material, with a ton of examples and practice problems to guide you. Stats wasn't easy for sure - one of my least favorite - and sorry it's being a bear for you. Are there specific concepts that are a problem?


Not everyone is going to have courses to squeeze in, so what does a testing-only schedule look like?

[JohnnyHeck]

mrs.b, you are such a brave soul! Thanks for sharing all your posts. Good luck in all your endeavors. Although tired, there still is great self satisfaction when you can tell yourself "You earned it!" which is certainly the case on your part. Your honest comments about on again, off again efforts helps us all to understand that though the road may be rocky, if others have done it, we can too. Thanks so much!

[ryoder]

I am not in any classes or studying for any CLEPs right now. Yeah I know, lazy.
But here is my schedule.

M-F (I get around 3.5 hours a day max for school)
6-7 AM: School work or
7-7:30: Workout at home gym
7:30-8 AM: Get ready for work
8-8:30 Drive to work
8:30-6 PM: Work
7-8 PM: School
8-8:30: Cook dinner for wife
8:30-9:30 Eat with wife and watch TV
9:30-11:00 School work

Sat/Sun ( I get around 10 hours of school work per day)
6-10:00 School
10-11:00 Gym
11-12:00 House work
12-1:00 Shower and lunch
1:00 - 6:00 School
6:00 - 8:00 Video games
8:00 - 10:00 Make dinner for wife and watch movies
10:00 - ??? None of your business

[cardiacclep]

My schedule is all over the place. One thing I have used lately is the no zero days philosophy. I saw a post about it on Reddit and adapted since reading it. It basically states that no day should go by without doing at least one thing to make yourself better than the day before. This can mean personal or professional goals. For example, I try to read at least one thing a day that would enhance my job skill. The end of the work week, I potentially have at least 5 more facts that could enhance my abilities. Also, for health I try to do at least one physical activity a day, that could mean only a chin up or a walk around the block. Often just by sitting down for one thing you actually sit longer and do more than you thought you would. Bottom line, do more than nothing everyday or no zero days. Simple but effective.