This post is all about the best 9 life hacks for moms going back to college.
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If you are a mom going back to college or trying to figure things out as a freshman, these 9 life hacks will help make it easier as you juggle multiple hats.
Many moms think they have to put their dreams on hold because of their family. What if I told you that is not true. You CAN pursue your dreams even if you have kids, and a long to-do list waiting for you. I am not saying it will be easy but it is possible.
1. Start by goal setting
At the beginning of the year or as needed think about your dreams and goals in life. It is never too late to return to college or advance your career.
Think of your big Why? Then sit down with your journal and write down what you would like to accomplish this year.
You can also create a Vision Board of your goals (like I did!) I find it more fun and exciting to cut out pictures and place them on a board where I can see them daily instead of writing my goals down but either way works fine. Doing these things will help you visualize the future and motivate you towards creating the life you want.
2. Save for college, as soon as possible!
We all know that college is not cheap and every year tuition costs keep rising. That is why I recommend to set a budget and save as early as possible. Besides it is less expensive to save for college than to borrow!
Calculate the total cost of tuition, books and any related expenses by semester or for the whole year and divide it by the corresponding number of weeks so you can start saving.
Call your bank and ask them to open a sub-account designated for college savings and have them set-up automatic transfers recurring each week, bi-weekly, or whatever works for you.
Also, take advantage of payment plans or college tuition assistance through your employer that will help defer payments to a later date instead of paying for classes upfront.
I found the combination of tuition assistance and payment plans to help me stay out of debt. I would save up to $5,000 each semester with the automatic transfers from my checking account to the sub-account, and the best part is that I didn’t need to take out any loans– Love it!
3. Search for books on Amazon
Amazon has the buy and rent option as well as Kindle formats for the majority of books. I found many books far more affordable than the school’s bookstore. If you decide to rent your textbooks through Amazon, remember to return them by the deadline!
4. Organize your time
Now it’s time to review that course syllabus and pencil in study time. You will notice that doing homework will take up a good chunk of your time during the week, so it is a good idea to start creating a schedule. I sit at the beginning of the week and dedicate time slots for important things like work, family, exercise, self-care, etc.
It is always good to intentionally set aside time to do what matters the most to you. If you want to work out 3x a week, set a time that works for you to stick to your goals. Remember to give yourself some wiggle room because life happens, and please dont overcommit.
5. Don’t procrastinate
I know this one is easier said than done. Procrastination is when we put off things for a later time for fear of failure or simply avoidance. However, our bodies’ stress levels go up as we try to rush to meet deadlines at the last minute. I found it easier to break up a week’s worth of homework into daily assignments to make it more manageable and less stressful.
6. Focus during studying
When it is time to do homework, make sure to be intentional. By this, I mean be specific about how much time you have and focus on the task at hand. Our minds are powerful enough that whatever time we give it to finish something, that is what happens.
I lost so much time getting distracted because I was not intentional. I found it helpful to listen to ambient music, set a timer, and my phone on airplane mode to focus and not get distracted.
7. Rely on help
Ask family to help you and delegate household chores to older children if you have them. Let them know you want to return to college and need their help to finish your degree. I am fortunate to have the help of my husband and son. I also relied on quick-dinners and rotisserie chicken. 🙂
8. Pray about everything
Lastly, I want to encourage you to share your dreams and goals with God. Make him a priority in your life, so things fall into place. When I trust God and ask for his help, my life improves–He carries me through, especially when giving up seems like a better option. I know God will do the same for you!
9. Enjoy the journey
All moms going back to college should remember that they are human beings, not human doings. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and don’t be afraid to mess up. Most importantly, have fun learning!
This post was all about the best 9 life hacks for moms going back to college.
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