Feb 05 2009
Back to Schoolers 101 - Step 1 - Take Stock
It is all too easy to get overwhelmed with school ~stuff~ …. and when you are also juggling kids, other family responsibilities, friends, jobs, caregiving, household stuff, holidays, finances, etc. etc. etc. on top of school, if you don’t occasionally get overwhelmed, chances are you are doing something wrong.
Judging by the search terms that are bringing people to this blog, lately, a whole lot of people are looking for pictures or information about the Blackberry Curve - and the rest are looking for ways to cope/manage/survive/juggle their way through school.
Much as I wish I could write a blog post or two that would provide support and some answers to everyone that happens to come on along this way, of course, I don’t have all the answers. I don’t have them all for MYSELF, never mind for anyone else.
Every time I THINK I’ve got it all under control, something else happens…. and as you no doubt know, when you’re juggling a whole bunch of balls, it doesn’t take a whole lot to mess up the works. Bet pretty much every Back-to-Schooler finds the same sort of thing, though.
So…. some strategies… starting with step 1. TAKE STOCK.
One of the main reasons no one person can come up with an easy answer for anybody is because of the changable nature of the challenges we face and the resources we have on hand.
So …if you’re starting to feel overwhelmed - or preferably sooner - the first step to getting & staying on track again is to stop, BREATHE, and take stock.
- What has to be done? When?
- What are the most pressing challenges/obstacles?
- And what resources do you have available to work with?
Next time: what to do with that information.
You don’t have to be going to school for this to be good advice. I remember in The Princess Bride that being the first step: “What are our assets?”
Ironically, my capcha is “stock opponents’”
One of our profs tells us that “it’s supposed to be hard” pretty much every time anyone complains about anything…. can hardly wait for phd program! (assuming I get into one! I HATE this waiting part)
you seem to be getting way more interesting captcha’s than I am Steph… mine right now is djebula the…can’t do much with that!