Graduating While Grinding: 7 Real-Life Tips for Surviving College While Working Full-Time"
Ever submitted a paper at 11:58 p.m., then clocked into work at 6 a.m. like a caffeinated superhero? If so, welcome to the club of full-time hustlers earning degrees on the side—where sleep is scarce, but the dreams are big. In honor of it being graduation weekend I want to share some tips on how I survived and balanced full-time work, school and mom life all while showing up for my family. Just know that while I may have aced my classes and seemed successful at work – there was plenty of times where I felt like I failed at “momming” and wife duties. Through it all though I had a support system that made sure none of these plates dropped. While the plates may have wobbled nothing was dropped. The following seven tips would be my advice.
Tip 1: Choose the Right Program
I think I found the most success through online learning. While I was attending classes in person for my undergraduate degree, I found an increase in success by having remote courses. Some may not necessarily say online college is real college but hey I have two degrees and a certification that says differently. When going through determining your next steps talk with your partner or whoever is your support system to see what might be best for you as well if you are unsure. Also pick a degree you are passionate about - without the passion you could potentially lack perseverance when things get tough. And trust me they will get tough.
Tip 2: Master the Art of Time Management
Time-block, time-block, time-block. Alexa, your phone is an actual egg timer. Use them all to your advantage. Time hacking my life was key. When in an online mode I also set a lot of internal deadlines for myself through breaking down assignments evaluating my schedule and setting up time to meet this deadline. Continuously reviewing these time blocks also lead to feeling the success in marking of taskers as complete. Time blocking in both personal and professional life meant that I had intentionally put time into developing a schedule that led to success but also ensured that I did not drop tasks or miss deadlines. I used a combination of my work calendar and personal calendar so I had a web-based solution that could handle all of the key items and taskers I needed to accomplish. I also have notebooks everywhere that are color coordinated based on what the subject is (i.e. personal, school and work) that I kept with me or near me to keep my head on straight of what needs to get accomplished.
Tip 3: Communicate with Professors and Employers
Communication is something that I still struggle with, but I am getting better at keeping my support team aware of what is currently going on. Demonstrating these communication skills with both professors and employers means that they are aware of what is going on. Also keep in mind though that they may not prioritize the same way you are. At one point I had a professor who did not understand my need to work full time and did not allow for any flexibility. Additionally, this professor was rigors in how she graded – I did not pass the class the first time through and that was a hard pill to swallow. I had attempted to have several meetings with this professor but continually was left with a level of confusion. Ultimately, I am grateful I went through the course again because this professor set me up for success in my dissertation. Just know though that communication was key here – the constant lines of communication really defined my subject and developed my reliance in ensuring that I did not just give up there but kept going back for more edits and updates.
Tip 4: Set Boundaries Without Guilt
Early on in my career I learned the need to have boundaries. Starting work and college meant that I needed to have these different barriers. Did I always maintain them? Absolutely not. Did I get better at re-enforcing them? Absolutely. Ensuring that there was sacred time for family was the biggest boundary I have stepped up to honor. Sure, my career is important, but a job will leave you and take everything from you. My family though – they will not leave (more or less I will not let them). Especially my little guy, I am his mom, I will be an example of what a wife can do. As he has grown older, I have set strict guidelines with work and myself that I have non-negotiables on when I can travel and what hours I will work. Putting up boundaries may be off putting some but the most valuable parts of my time and my energy need to be funneled into the most valuable people in my life.
When you set boundaries though – they will be pushed. If you communicate up front the level of expectations though and stick to them people will figure out quickly your non-negotiables. Do not and I repeat DO NOT compromise your boundaries because a small erosion in these will soon create a massive pothole in your life and that’s when balance starts to get out of whack. Your boundaries will be key in keeping schedule and your sanity.
Tip 5: Leverage Your Support System
My Family, friends and Coworkers are the key to my success. If it was not for them, I would have been so lost and unsuccessful. I did not choose the easy way for sure, but I also put those people through it with me so to them THANK YOU. Thank you for picking me up when I was crying over something silly because it was the final straw. Thank you for being interviewed, questioned and then filling out surveys. A huge thank you to those who watched my kid while I wrote papers and developed outlines. Pursuing higher education would not have happened if I did not have all the support I had. A few other tools that need a shout-out would be Grammarly, word editor, and more importantly the variety of coffee shops and airport lounges that supplied either caffeine or cocktails depending on the mood or task at hand.
Tip 6: Prioritize Self-Care
Burnout is real, so yes, make a joke about it so we don’t really have to deal with it but know its there and looming. This also means that self-care is also extremely important. Just know that self-care comes in many forms. This can be big things like a vacation that is mildly unplugged or getting up from your desk/coffee spot/ wherever you are working and going for a little stretch break. The key thing I learned from this process is that no one will know what you need if you can’t listen to your body either. Take time to evaluate and get in touch with yourself so you can understand as to why you may be feeling one way or the other. Lacking self-care could potentially mean that you have a sinus infection you ignore for way too long and then both your eyes’ swells shut on a work trip when you must demonstrate a product in front of a convention of people. I would love to pretend but this was real-life and real reality check that while yes, I may think I can do it all, maybe I should do a little more self-care like go to the doctor when I am sick for too long. So, take the bath, read the book, go out with your friend and all these things are key to finding whatever balance you may need.
Tip 7: Remember Your "Why"
Always remember the way. Recognize that your present may change but that is why you started is your constant. Pursuing higher education at times can be tedious and rough but ultimately that will keep you grounded. My why was a variety of things. Sure, I joked that being Dr. Strange was my why but it was much deeper than that. My why was I wanted to learn – I was talking to my mom earlier about how much I missed school. It was then even more rooted in that my way was seeking validation. I thrive fun with a well written paper or smash out a literature review where I can see applications in my business. Ultimately my why is so that I must tools to go do whatever the heck I set my mind to. I want to be able to at one point be my own business owner and consultant so that I can set my hours and have the balance to be a mom as well as wife.
This weekend, as I celebrate graduation, I’m reflecting on just how much it took to get here—juggling school, a full-time job, and mom life all at once. There were days I nailed my to-do list and others when I felt like I was falling short at home. But even when the plates wobbled, none of them fell—and that’s thanks to the boundaries I set, the self-care I prioritized, and most of all, the incredible support system that never let me quit.
To those on this journey: it’s not easy, but it is possible. Stay rooted in your “why,” ask for help when you need it, and give yourself grace along the way. The late nights, the sacrifices, the tears—they’re all proof of your strength. And when the cap finally goes on your head, you’ll know: every bit of it was worth it.
Bribing toddler and briefing bosses - same skillset different snacks.
Dr. Strange