2 answers
Cynthia
Student
Marysville, Ohio
1
Question
Updated
285 views
How do I balance working full time, taking care of my baby and full time student online?
I am returning to school online after a few years away, I did receive my associates in art last year from a different school. I am very nervous.
Login to comment
2 answers
Srinivas Rao Routhu
Business Consultant
43
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Srinivas Rao’s Answer
Hello Cynthia,
Balancing full‑time work, caring for a baby, and full‑time online school is extremely hard, but you can do it if you focus on small, realistic routines instead of perfection.
1. Protect short, consistent study blocks
- Choose 1–2 “anchor times” each day (early morning before baby wakes, during a long nap, or after bedtime) and guard them like work meetings.
- Use Pomodoro‑style blocks: 20‑minute focused study, 5 minutes off; even 1–2 of these sessions per day count.
2. Plan your week in advance
- Review your syllabi and mark all deadlines and exam dates in one calendar (Google Calendar or paper planner).
- Schedule study, work, and baby time so you can see where you might be overloaded and adjust early.
3. Accept help and boundaries
- Ask your partner, family, or a babysitter for even 1–2 hours weekly that are strictly for study.
- Tell your family when you’re “in school mode” (headphones, a closed door, or a sign) so they interrupt less.
4. Study smarter, not longer
- For each session, set 1–2 small goals (e.g., “finish this reading,” “do 3 questions”).
- Use baby‑friendly tricks: listen to recorded lectures during walks or feeds, read notes out loud, or use voice notes instead of long writing.
5. Take care of your mental health
- Give yourself credit for finishing early if you met your goals; don’t over‑extend every night.
- If you can, talk to an advisor or counselor about possibly starting with a lighter course load if full‑time becomes too overwhelming long‑term.
You’re not “behind”; you’re starting again with way more experience than before.
Balancing full‑time work, caring for a baby, and full‑time online school is extremely hard, but you can do it if you focus on small, realistic routines instead of perfection.
1. Protect short, consistent study blocks
- Choose 1–2 “anchor times” each day (early morning before baby wakes, during a long nap, or after bedtime) and guard them like work meetings.
- Use Pomodoro‑style blocks: 20‑minute focused study, 5 minutes off; even 1–2 of these sessions per day count.
2. Plan your week in advance
- Review your syllabi and mark all deadlines and exam dates in one calendar (Google Calendar or paper planner).
- Schedule study, work, and baby time so you can see where you might be overloaded and adjust early.
3. Accept help and boundaries
- Ask your partner, family, or a babysitter for even 1–2 hours weekly that are strictly for study.
- Tell your family when you’re “in school mode” (headphones, a closed door, or a sign) so they interrupt less.
4. Study smarter, not longer
- For each session, set 1–2 small goals (e.g., “finish this reading,” “do 3 questions”).
- Use baby‑friendly tricks: listen to recorded lectures during walks or feeds, read notes out loud, or use voice notes instead of long writing.
5. Take care of your mental health
- Give yourself credit for finishing early if you met your goals; don’t over‑extend every night.
- If you can, talk to an advisor or counselor about possibly starting with a lighter course load if full‑time becomes too overwhelming long‑term.
You’re not “behind”; you’re starting again with way more experience than before.
Wendy Hassan
Technical curriculum development
1
Answer
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Wendy’s Answer
Cynthia, wow, you have a lot on your plate! You are smart to be thinking about strategies to make your balancing act manageable. I'd say this:
First, being a mom is a juggling act, and there is no single right way to do it. We all learn by making mistakes and trying again. And again. And yet again! Be kind to yourself if you feel like you've fallen short or missed a step. Know that you are playing the long game, and every day is a new beginning to try again.
Second, keep in mind that what you are doing will always be changing. Your baby will be growing and developing, so what works one week may not work the next. Your classes will also be changing from one semester to the next, and most likely, your work will too. Given this constant rate of change, I'd suggest creating regular checkpoints on your calendar to review what's working and what isn't, so you can adapt your plans and your strategy. Maybe monthly at first, then every 3-4 months? Whatever cadence feels right to you.
Third, and probably most importantly, you're going to need a community for help. As we all know, it takes a village to raise a child, and on top of that, you are working full-time and going to school. Each one of these things is a LOT, and you're doing all three! Know that you are going to need help along the way. Take time to build a network, and know who you can ask for help. For your baby, you're going to need childcare. Who can you depend on? Do you have people in your life (a partner, friends, and/or family) who can be available in addition to your regular childcare? Do you know other moms who you might be able trade babysitting with?
For your school, think about the timing and pacing of your classes. You mentioned your classes will be online. Maybe some of them will be async also, which will allow you to fit them in to your baby's schedule. Think about how many classes you can realistically take at one time, and know that it's okay to go slow. Maybe start with only one class!
For your work, if you can, help your manager see how your degree program can benefit your work. That way, your manager will also have a vested interest in helping you finish it. Having your manager on your side will have lots of downstream benefits!
And above all else, remember to enjoy the ride! Good luck.
First, being a mom is a juggling act, and there is no single right way to do it. We all learn by making mistakes and trying again. And again. And yet again! Be kind to yourself if you feel like you've fallen short or missed a step. Know that you are playing the long game, and every day is a new beginning to try again.
Second, keep in mind that what you are doing will always be changing. Your baby will be growing and developing, so what works one week may not work the next. Your classes will also be changing from one semester to the next, and most likely, your work will too. Given this constant rate of change, I'd suggest creating regular checkpoints on your calendar to review what's working and what isn't, so you can adapt your plans and your strategy. Maybe monthly at first, then every 3-4 months? Whatever cadence feels right to you.
Third, and probably most importantly, you're going to need a community for help. As we all know, it takes a village to raise a child, and on top of that, you are working full-time and going to school. Each one of these things is a LOT, and you're doing all three! Know that you are going to need help along the way. Take time to build a network, and know who you can ask for help. For your baby, you're going to need childcare. Who can you depend on? Do you have people in your life (a partner, friends, and/or family) who can be available in addition to your regular childcare? Do you know other moms who you might be able trade babysitting with?
For your school, think about the timing and pacing of your classes. You mentioned your classes will be online. Maybe some of them will be async also, which will allow you to fit them in to your baby's schedule. Think about how many classes you can realistically take at one time, and know that it's okay to go slow. Maybe start with only one class!
For your work, if you can, help your manager see how your degree program can benefit your work. That way, your manager will also have a vested interest in helping you finish it. Having your manager on your side will have lots of downstream benefits!
And above all else, remember to enjoy the ride! Good luck.