New mothers face a unique challenge: how to balance school and motherhood. For those returning to school after having a baby, it can be tricky to manage both. But with the right support and strategies, it is possible to keep up with your studies and care for your newborn. Keep reading to find out how to balance school and new motherhood.
Gather all of your essentials
When you’re a new mother, it’s important that you have all of the essentials you need for both schoolwork and for parenting. For example, pumping bras are an easy and convenient way to pump milk. These nursing bras allow mothers to multitask by freeing up their hands so they can take notes or do other school-related tasks without having to worry about tending to the pump at the same time. They also provide extra support and comfort, helping new moms feel more confident when going about their day.
Find a flexible online degree program
The educational leadership masters program online offers flexible scheduling, with courses that can be taken entirely online or in combination with traditional on-campus classes. This allows new mothers to complete coursework at times that are convenient for them and also provides an opportunity for students to interact with faculty members who understand the unique challenges of balancing school and motherhood. The curriculum focuses on developing leadership skills necessary to excel in today’s educational environment, including research methods, data analysis, school policy, administration, and professional development.
Manage your time effectively with a planner
Managing time effectively with a planner is an essential part of balancing school and new motherhood. With the addition of a newborn, it can be difficult to keep track of all the tasks that need to be completed in both family life and academia. A planner can help neatly organize your schedule so you can prioritize important tasks while still finding time for yourself and bonding with your baby. To start off, create a list of all the things you have to do both at home and in school over the course of each day or week. Include items such as grocery shopping, lesson planning, doctor’s appointments, classwork due dates, etc. Once everything has been accounted for on paper (or electronically), use the planner to assign specific times throughout each day/week when these activities should be done. This will allow you to budget your time wisely so that nothing slips through the cracks.
Take regular breaks and stay hydrated
Taking regular breaks helps the mind and body relax from the stress of being a student as well as a mother. It gives you an opportunity to clear your head, recharge your energy levels, and refocus on what needs to be done. Breaks should include activities that make you feel relaxed like reading or listening to music. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help keep you feeling energized, alert, and focused on the tasks at hand. When you are dehydrated, your body does not function optimally. This increases fatigue, decreases motivation levels, and makes it more difficult to concentrate or focus on your tasks.
Set realistic goals for yourself
It’s important to set realistic goals for yourself when trying to balance school and motherhood. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities of both, but setting realistic expectations helps make it more manageable. This means being honest with yourself about what you are capable of doing in a given amount of time and not overextending your resources. For instance, if you have an assignment due every week for class and a newborn at home, it may be unrealistic to expect that one night will suffice to complete the assignment. Instead, completing parts throughout the week or finding extra pockets of time here and there can help alleviate some stress while still enabling progress toward your educational goals.
Overall, balancing school and new motherhood can be a challenging task, but with the right planning and support, it can be manageable and rewarding.
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