Tips to Balance Home, Work, and Study While Pursuing a Career in Nursing

For years now, hospitals and care homes have been dealing with a shortage of nurses, which means that for many people in search of a new career, nursing is a top choice.

But when you’re a parent, balancing home life, work, and studying for a new career can be a challenge!

nurse-in-hospital

If you’re a mom that’s decided to take the plunge and make a career change, you may be feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle it all. But never fear!

Try these tips to help you find a good balance between the demands on your time, so you can make your dreams of becoming a nurse a reality:

Streamline Your Education

The career of a nurse is both challenging and rewarding, and requires its own specialized education.

If you’ve already got a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, then the accelerated nursing programs online through schools like Baylor University may be ideal.

These accelerated programs give you a way to complete your degree in a shorter time, which means you’ll be able to look for a nursing job that much faster.

Wondering why you should choose an online program rather than the typical on-campus courses? For a busy mom with kids to care for, it’s a great way to achieve the balance you’ll need while studying.

Online programs tend to be more flexible, so that there’s not as much upheaval in your daily routine. While some programs still require time in-class, much of the work can be done from the comfort of your own home.

Being able to complete assignments and work through classes on your own schedule also gives you the opportunity to continue working at least part-time while taking the course, so your family budget takes less of a hit.

Studying from Home – You Need the Proper Set-Up

Once you start taking online classes and completing assigments, it’s important to create the kind of home environment that allows you to be productive and successful in your school studies.

Ideally, that means setting up a dedicated space in the house that you can close off from noise and distractions. A spare bedroom, the basement, or an office are all ideal.

The proper set-up should include a comfortable desk and chair, adequate lighting, all the software/hardware you’ll need, and storage space.

Learn When and How to Say “No”

If you’re used to chipping in whenever anyone needs a hand, then the idea of saying “no” to anyone can seem jolting.

But the fact is that it’s healthy to know what your limitations and boundaries are, and have the confidence to turn away when you don’t have time to help out.

If you’re stretched thin and feeling overwhelmed, saying no to extra tasks and responsibilities will be extremely important.

This may be hard at first, but with time you’ll become more in-tune with what you can reasonably accomplish without adding stress to your life. And you’ll learn that saying no sometimes is great for your mental and physical well-being!

benjamin-with-vileda-easywring-spin-mop

Learn When to Delegate at Home

In the same way many moms take on too many responsibilities outside the home, they’re also prone to taking on too much inside the home.

If you’re used to doing a lot of chores around the house, it’s time to step back and get others to pitch in. If your kids are old enough to help with chores, consider creating a weekly chore chart outlining the chores to complete each week.

Every time you add something to their list, you are taking something off your own list, which ultimately makes your life easier and more balanced.

Plus, it it’s a great lesson for kids to learn about how to keep a house tidy and cared for, as well as the importance of sharing responsibilities! Keeping your house comfortable and livable shouldn’t fall on any one person’s shoulders.

Depending on your kids’ ages, these are some of the age-appropriate chores they may be able to help with:

  • Gathering and sorting dirty laundry
  • Folding and putting away clean clothes
  • Loading and emptying the dishwasher
  • Washing and drying dishes by hand
  • Preparing and/or cooking meals
  • Cleaning up after meals
  • Putting away groceries
  • Vacuuming
  • Dusting
  • Outdoor chores such as weeding, raking, and watering plants

Remember that your kids are learning, so don’t worry about every job being perfect. Praise them for trying their best, and soon they’ll be pros!

You Still Need “Me” Time

Even though it may not seem like there’s enough time to do the fun things you want to do, the fact is that these are just as important to fit into the schedule.

Sure, you may not get “me” time every day, but scheduling it regularly will help you to feel more balanced and happier in life.

Depriving yourself of time spent doing something you enjoy for too long will skyrocket your stress and make you less productive in the long-run.

So, make sure to take the time to indulge yourself, whether that’s with an at-home spa day or a night out with your significant other. You deserve it!

happy-planner-filled-pages

Try Using a Calendar or Daily Planner

If you don’t currently use a calendar to schedule your day, you may be amazed by how easier it is to fit everything in when you plan it out first!

Don’t stop at just writing down appointments and meetings. Your calendar can also be used to plan out your day in detail. Visualizing how your day is spent and where your time goes makes time management much smoother.

Finding balance could be a simple as learning to manage your time. And if you don’t like a traditional paper calendar, try a scheduling app instead.

Don’t Let Anyone Tell You Balance Isn’t Possible

There is no debating whether or not life as a mom is busy – it is. It may sometimes feel like you have a million different jobs to do to keep your family and household running smoothly.

And when you start studying for a new career on top of the regular household jobs, you may wonder how you can possibly pack everything into a day!

But with some good time management, the right at-home setup, and some help from your family, you can do it! And starting a rewarding new career will make all the sacrifice now worth every moment.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *