3 Tips To “Child-Proof” Your Study Strategy

College is hard. Whether you are pursuing your undergraduate degree, or adding a master’s to your resume, it’s a long, arduous process for anyone. When you are a parent, it adds an entirely different dynamic to an already challenging endeavor. If you’re like me, there are days where it can seem impossible to reach your academic goals while chasing kiddos and work deadlines. But, I’m here to tell you that there’s hope for the overwhelmed! Before our children were born, most of us spent countless hours “child-proofing” every area of our homes. There was a plan for absolutely everything those little hands were going to touch. While our babies come first, there are steps super-moms and super-dads can take to “child-proof” our study schedules.

Do Not Procrastinate

We’ve all heard of Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong – and at the worst possible time. Parents, you know what I’m talking about. You can schedule and plan for your children all day long, but there will always be someone who goes off script and gets a cold, needs extra help with homework, or just needs you. In order to meet the needs of your kids and your assignment deadlines, start early. If you find yourself with extra time during the day, take a moment to answer a discussion post or do a mastery exercise. Do not assume that you will have that time you set aside later in the week – if you have an open slot now, use it! If your week goes as planned, it will leave you with extra, stress-free, quality time with your family. If something unexpected comes up on the weekend, you won’t be pulling your hair out trying to meet the assignment deadline on Sunday night.

Bring Your Work With You

One of the best things about pursuing a degree online is that everything is portable. As a parent, it’s essential to our success that we make the most of this feature. Your phone, tablet, laptop, textbooks, or whatever you use to study – take them with you, wherever you go. This strategy overlaps quite a bit with my first tip – it’s all about maximizing your time. The key is to have your study tools with you so that if you find that time, you can make the most of it. If you find yourself with that unexpected extra time at your child’s band practice, getting the car fixed, or on the treadmill, make sure you have quick access to your work to make a little progress on your assignments.

Have Your Own Space

This one can be difficult. One thing I’ve learned from studying at home is that if you are in one of the communal areas of your house, your family will assume you are available for anything they want at the time. You may able to accomplish some of your weekly assignments at the kitchen table with chaos surrounding you. However, there are some assignments that require a substantial amount of focus. For these assignments, schedule “at school” time. The goal should be to spend 1-3 hours in that space every day on those assignments that really test you. If you have a home office, close the door if you can. If you don’t have an office, head to your favorite coffee shop, or check out your local library. If childcare is an issue, set a reasonable time when all of the kids need to be in their rooms for bed, and reclaim your kitchen table! There will always be times when the best strategies and efforts are no match for a parent’s schedule. However, if you make these tips a part of your routine, you’ll find those unexpected changes to be much more manageable. Maximize your time, get those fantastic grades, and leave yourself more open to quality time with those who inspired you to accomplish this goal in the first place.