Nanny to Mommy

When bringing life into the world, many of your waking hours will be spent tending to your children’s every want and need. As you progress through motherhood, there may come a point where you reassess your situation and decide it’s time to go back into education. Gaining new skills and credentials can help you command a higher salary, which is vital for supporting your family and everything that goes with it.

Many stay at home moms opt for online learning which provides freedom and flexibility, allowing you to study at home and at a pace that suits you. However, with children to look after along the way, juggling your duties can be difficult. To help, here is a guide on how to be a successful mom-student.

When you consider how much time goes into raising a child, you’ll want to make sure you pick a course that motivates you and keeps you interested. If you don’t take the time to look at the entry requirements and modules you’ll study, you could end up on a program that doesn’t correlate with your professional endeavors. What’s more, while online courses tend to be cheaper than in-person, it’s still money that could go down the drain, which could have been spent on your family.

Before deciding on a course, you need to have a good think about how you want your future to pan out. For example, if you have a caring personality, a career in nursing or teaching may appeal to you. If you’re a social worker and taking time out to look after your child, it may be beneficial to obtain an MSW degree that will instantly boost your career opportunities and help you apply for higher paid roles. As a mom, you can’t afford to rush the decision process, so make sure you find a course that you know you’ll benefit from.

Once you’ve picked a suitable course, it’s time to establish a schedule. Doing so will allow you to cram in your learning around looking after the kids. Once you enroll in your program, you need to fully concentrate on your learning to yield results. Therefore, getting organized before it begins is essential. Whether you’re a new mom or you have a toddler running riot, you do not have the luxury to be lazy with your schedule. If you schedule staying in from 9 am to 11:30 am on a Saturday morning, make sure you stick to it.

Getting a calendar is the best place to start. You can use it to write down your daily mom duties, alongside your learning. There are all kinds of unexpected problems that present themselves during motherhood, so try to be flexible with your schedule. If an emergency strikes, you can always come back to your studies later. As you get into a routine, you should feel happier in yourself.

After you’ve established a schedule, you need to find an area in the home that you can dedicate to your studies. If you have lots of space, it may be worth transforming a room into a home office. This space can be used to store all your reading materials, papers, and be a no-go zone for the kids. If you’re limited with room, using your dining table as a study station can work just as well.

The last thing you need is distractions from your kids while you’re immersed in your coursework. So, if you have a partner, make sure they’re in charge of childcare during this time. It can be easy to lose concentration and motivation if you’re having to keep getting up to address your kids. If your children are old enough, make sure you explain that you need this time on your own for studying.

Although a primary reason for going back into education will be to get a higher salary which will benefit your children, they may not see this straight away. The last thing you want is for your children to feel pushed out, so make sure you set aside plenty of quality time for just you and your children. A great bonding opportunity is the bedtime routine, which allows you to forget about everything that’s going on, and instead, fully focus on your child.

Of course, if we had it our way, we would spend as much time as possible with our kids, but when you factor in learning and day-to-day chores, you’ll need to be savvy with your day to ensure your children don’t miss out on quality time. If you decide on studying in the week and having the weekends off, make sure to make the most of Saturday and Sunday. This can include taking your children to the local park, library, or zoo.

With so much focus being on your children, chores, and learning, it can be easy to forget about yourself in the process. However, if you’re not taking good care of your mind and body, this can lead to burnout. High stress levels will do you and your children no favors, so don’t feel guilty about having some time for yourself.

Whether you run a hot bath, indulge in a book, or call a friend for a catchup, practicing self-care is essential for your mental and physical wellbeing. When you go back into education, you’ll naturally want to spend as much time as you can studying, but this can come at a price.

Before you get started with your course, now is the time to reach out for support from your loved ones. Communicating with your spouse, family members, and friends about your goals is important, as you’ll find many of them will offer help and support to keep you on track. Make sure you let your loved ones know how important your course is to you and how you’ll require their help along the way.

This may include babysitting, words of encouragement, or having someone step in to do the housework. If you’re a single mom, you can’t be expected to do everything by yourself. You should never feel embarrassed about asking for help. You don’t want to be miserable during your time as a student, so having a helping hand can reduce stress levels, promote positive thinking, and keep you going.

If there is one thing many moms have taken for granted in the past, it’s getting a good night’s sleep. As you would expect, broken sleep is inevitable with young children. Once you become a mom-student, you need all the sleep you can get. To succeed in your course, you need to be full of energy and focus, otherwise, you may struggle to get the grades you envisage. Getting a good night’s rest is easier said than done, although some useful tips can promote sleep.

Sleeping while your baby or toddler sleeps can be a big help. If you’re the type of person who is always scrolling through their social media feed, taking time away from your smartphone before bed can aid better sleep. If you live with your spouse, ask them to do the night feed, especially if you have a day of learning ahead of you. Poor sleep can affect concentration, impair judgment, and worsen memory. Once you start getting better sleep, you should wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to get stuck into your studies.

As well as sleeping well, you need to watch what you eat during your studies. Throughout pregnancy, you may have indulged a little, but once your little one is here, and if you are serious about doing well on your course, sticking to a balanced diet is advised. This is because a balanced diet can boost cognitive function, strengthen bones and joints, and keep you feeling upbeat.

Make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables every day. While a takeout from time to time is fine, it shouldn’t be the norm. Your mind and body need fueling, both for looking after the kids and studying. You should also be drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated.

We’re all fully aware of how important exercise is for keeping our weight at bay, improving cardiovascular health, and boosting mental health. This means once you become a mom-student, try and find some time to dedicate towards physical activity. Even if it involves going for a jog around the neighborhood, any activity is better than nothing.

If your child is still in a pram, you can get outdoors and go for a long walk which will get your blood pumping and help you return to your desk feeling more alert. Should you lounge on the couch behind a laptop all day, you may feel more sluggish which will do your productivity levels no favors.

No matter what course you’re studying from home, juggling childcare and learning can be difficult. To help you get the best of both worlds and graduate with the best marks, utilizing all the tips above can keep you focused and help you stay on track.