Going back to school can be a
challenge no matter where you are in life. Fitting night school into
your schedule on top of working, raising children and attending to your
other commitments can be particularly difficult. You can best fit night
school into your daily schedule by paying close attention to how you
spend all of your time and trimming your tasks down.
Step 1: Review Your Schedule
Perform
a time audit that is realistic. Time management professionals recommend
that before an attempt is made to add to an already hectic schedule,
address how time is managed. Make a list of how you spend your entire
day. It should include breaks, travel and meals. Try to eliminate
activities or tasks that can be done in time chunks rather than spread
out.
Step 2: Adjust Your Schedule
If you
typically go shopping on two different days, try to do it on one day and
try to find stores that are close together. Adjust how you spend your
time by reorganizing it. When you are finished, you will probably find
that there is enough time to fit an evening night school schedule into
your day.
Step 3: Prioritize Tasks
Make a to-do
list that makes sense for you. Try doing this at the end of every day so
that you are motivated to keep up with it. Use a calendar, daily or
weekly schedule to track tasks. Make a list of must-dos and keep it
separate from extra tasks that could be done at any time. Use an
expanding file with dates on it to put reminders for time sensitive
tasks. Put advance tasks on a desk calendar and put a back up sheet in
the expanding calendar. Try new systems and adapt them to your needs. By
doing this, you can also eliminate wasted time by focusing on what is
most important.
Step 4: Use Waiting Time Effectively
There
are various times of the day when we are forced to wait while someone
else does something that is connected to us. For example, we wait in
line at the store, at the doctor's office, on the bus or train. Part of
what could be difficult about fitting night school into your day is the
homework that you will have to do. Waiting time is a great way to get
some of that done.
Step 5: Always Carry Assignments
Take any reading and other work assignments with you so that wherever
you are, you can read. Have a pen, small pad and post-its with you so
that you can make notes as needed. Lunch time and other enforced breaks
are also other good times to take advantage of for studying.
Step 6: Manage TV and Phone Time
It
is inevitable that you will want to catch up on the news or other
guilty TV pleasures or talk on the phone each day. During this time, try
to organize your day; fold laundry, clean and do other menial tasks
that don't require much concentration. Make lists, sort your mail, go
over the next day's schedule, check email and do other small tasks that
must be done.