If you’re a non-traditional student balancing work and life, it can be challenging. Especially if you have other adult responsibilities.
It took me a couple weeks to get used to new schedules; however, I have found that I have become more efficient in my tasks. Once you figure out what works for you and your schedule, you will find more time to relax.
In this post, I’ll share a week in my life as an adult balancing full-time work and online college. You’ll find that I don’t dedicate that much time to classes until the weekend.
A Week in the Life of a Non-Traditional Student
Thursday
- Woke up at 7:15am-ish (slept in ruminating about my upcoming college projects)
- Did a Bible Study
- Folded a couple pieces of laundry
- Made a salad for breakfast and some tuna salad for lunch (working on increasing my protein)
- Went to my full-time job
- Had a virtual coffee chat with a data analyst intern
- Husband took me to Culvers for emotional support to prep for our supposed late night studying
- Played Call of Duty Black Ops Six
- Worked on Western Civilization class paper…only lasted an hour studying rather than all night
- Went to bed at around 9:30p
Friday
- Woke up at 7:15 am-ish (again, slept in ruminating about college projects due)
- Had a very unproductive Bible study
- Did not make breakfast or lunch
- Went to my full-time job
- Had lunch at Texas Roadhouse with a coworker
- Worked more
- Came straight home and started working on that Western Civilization essay Spent a solid hour and a half in deep focus knocking out this paper
- Realized my draft is 8 pages long instead of 2…and I’m not even done yet
- Decided to start a blog
- Started a blog
- Wrote first post on blog
- Went to bed at around 10p
Saturday
- Woke up at 6am. Then slept in to 6:45am
- Did a brief Bible study
- Worked on 2nd blog post
- Spent an hour and a half finishing and submitting Western Civ paper
- Had a family gardening date at 10am
- Visited more family at 2pm
- Came home and played COD
- Scrolled and watched tv the rest of the night
- Went to bed around 9ish
Sunday
- Woke up around 6:15am
- Scrambled to make breakfast and coffee to go serve with Husband at church
- Served for 5 hours at church doing set up, take down, and worship
- Came home, scrolled and watched TV for like 2 hours
- Started researching and working on other paper due, my Organizational Communication essay
- Hit a slump so got concrete mixers (ice cream) from Culvers for husband and I
- Came home and finished and submitted Organizational Communication paper
- Went back out to get wax seals for toilet from Home Depot
- Got gas for my car
- Came home
- Went to bed around 9:30
Monday
- Woke up at 7:20
- Grabbed coffee and left for work (I was cutting it close here)
- Went to work
- Worked best as I could (could only give 30%. Probably was starting to feel burnout)
- Scrolled at lunch time
- Worked some more
- Came home
- Crashed on the couch with my husband and scrolled. Didn’t do any homework
- Went to bed at around 8:30
Tuesday
- Woke up at 6
- Finally did another Bible study in my basement
- Saw a spider so I went upstairs to finish my morning routine
- Went for a 10-minute walk outside. It was sprinkling rain, but it was still refreshing
- Came back and made some concoction of Tuna, feta cheese, garlic from our garden and mustard with broccoli on the side. We were out of eggs haha. It was actually delicious. I’ve been trying to increase my protein these days.
- Went to work- God provides! I met my primary metric for the week
- During lunch, I read through the required readings for my classes. I got through 12 out of 14 pgs for the week!
- Did more work
- Picked up prescriptions from CVS on my way home…didn’t get home until 7ish because of traffic
- Scrolled and watched TV
- Went to bed around 8pm
Wednesday
- Woke up at 6
- Did a Bible study
- Spent a half hour working on one of my class assignments
- Prepped for work
- Washed a load of laundry
- Went to work
- Worked (Job was rough today, could barely concentrate)
- Went to Burger King for lunch
- Worked some more
- Drove home
- Had a virtual coffee chat with an aspiring data analyst on LinkedIn
- Put clothes in the dryer
- Scrolled and spent time with husband
- Went to bed around 10ish
Conclusion
This was a week in the life of a non-traditional student working full-time. I hope this encouraged you, and showed you that it is possible to make time for work, school, life responsibilities, and sleep.
Some weeks will be busier than others. But once you figure out what systems work best for you, you’ll develop routines that will help keep you grounded.
Also join the Next Level IRL email list below for more lessons learned from balancing work, school, and building skills for a career pivot as an adult with real-life responsibilities.