{my new mantra; photo obviously taken before I realized I need coffee to fuel my life}
It’s no secret that I started school last Monday. I am signed up for 12 hours, which equals four classes, which equals a full-time graduate student, and a busy one at that. I had planned to move to a more part-time schedule at the hotel (still working about 30 hours per week), but apparently there was a miscommunication somewhere, and I found out last Monday morning that my position cannot be part-time, so I had a choice: full-time or no time. Since quitting is not an option for me, I chose to stay on full-time. Cue a panic attack and a few tears.
It was a rough couple of days, until I realized that moping around wasn’t changing anything, and certainly wasn’t making me feel any better. So I put on my big girl panties and dealt with it in the only way I know how: writing stuff down. First, I made a list of my priorities and how much time they require of me. It looked something like this:
-School (3 nights per week + 1 online class; study time)
-Work (5 days per week; 1 Saturday per month; events)
-Blog (GOAL: 3 posts per week, MWF) – we’ll see if this ever actually happens, but it’s good to have goals, right?!
-Workout (GOAL: 4x per week: run 2x; run + weights 2x) – ditto.
-Dinner/Cooking (GOAL: 3 nights per week: 1 big meal + leftovers, 1 crockpot meal, 1 quick-and-easy meal)
Then I made myself a schedule, so that all the things I have to do in a day are accounted for, hour by hour (see below, top left corner).
{Clockwise from top left: new schedule; a textbook + my planner BFF (a gift from Kapachino; another shot of my BFF (seriously, I would be lost without it); study time with Pancho.}
I also made a list of the luxuries I will be allowing myself since I will still be working full-time. They include:
-Professional house (deep) cleaning once per month. (I feel that this is the only way I am going to stay on top of housework.)
-Date night OUT once per week (Friday or Saturday night). Doesn’t have to be fancy (i.e. gourmet hot dog place, Mexican, etc.) but what matters is that we’re getting out, spending time together, and most importantly I’m not cooking (and no dishes!).
-Michael cooks one night per week. (His idea!)
-At some point during the weekend, stop studying/doing homework long enough to watch a movie (or have a small Mad Men marathon). We used to watch movies or have TV show mini-marathons during the week after dinner, but that time will now be devoted to reading + studying.
-Quiet/reading time before bed nightly. I want to try to be in bed each night around 10pm, since I am going to have to hit the ground running every morning (and I am not a morning person). I’d also like to aim to not be doing homework right up until bed, but instead have half an hour or so of quiet time for personal reading or just reflecting on the day. If I don’t write in time for myself, it won’t happen, and I will go insane.
So there it is. The blueprint for my new way of life. What do you think? Can I do it? Am I crazy? Will I die? And most importantly, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ME?
Please, please, have advice for me.
Cole says:
It sounds like you have a really good plan – I hope the semester goes well. We are looking at a really busy fall, too. Mommy is not nearly as organized as you and her big plan is just to power through. February should be a lot calmer!
Chelsea says:
You’ll rock it. The good news is that you’ll be too busy to realize how much it sucks!!
Molly says:
You can do ANYTHING for a finite time. That was my mantra in law school: it’s just 3 yrs. Now I look back and miss that time, crazy and stressed as it was. Girl, you got this.
Jen says:
You’ve got this! Just don’t forget the coffee as you’re running out the door ….
Abigail @ Skywaitress says:
Wow, you look so organized. I think it’s really good that you’ve scheduled time to do some things for yourself. I think the most important thing is that you stick to your bedtime. You will be so much less stressed and will be able to think and function better if you’re rested.
You got this.
Claire says:
I have a psychotically busy schedule as well…I’ve found that a good iPod playlist can change my mood in an instant because there’s a song for every mood. Also, when I get super stressed out because of my schedule, I tend to get myself sick about it. I carry Vitamin C packets that you mix into water. They have saved the day many times!
Tabaitha says:
Hang in there. I’m a planner by nature so I go a bit crazy when I don’t have a schedule during my busy weeks. Praying you are able to find a calm balance to it all.
Nicole says:
Ironic that I just sent you a very similar update of my life via text just a while ago.
I realized that having a budget over my finances was like having a very neat little corner of a garden in the middle of a wild field. I realized that I am where I am and I needed to plant some real roots, instead of just going day to day. I have a full time job, a full time ministry, and also I should probably not become a monk like I want to. So I decided to make a “life budget”. Yes, I made that phrase up. Basically, I looked at all aspects of my life, all the domains, and they each correspond to a certain color post-it note. These post-it notes fill my calendar. Visually, I can see where I’m off balance. It helps me to schedule things that mean something to me that have nothing to do with work or ministry. I schedule things like “Mail rent” and “Learn to play ‘Harvest Moon’ on the ukulele”. It really helps.
I also have a daily breakdown that ALSO includes reading or reflecting for half an hour each night with a cup of chamomile.
Crazy how similarly we cope.
Alas, my planner has fallen ill due to an incident with peanut sauce, but I get a new one today {that I designed and got printed at Office Depot for less than $5}. And then I can function like an MFA again. {Mother Effing Adult}.
Love you. So much. And miss you so much, too.
Lacey Bean says:
GREAT plan. I need to set up one for myself. I think it’s awesome you’re taking on school and work at the same time ! I look back at college and wonder how I handled a full courseload, Asst Director of my dorm, internship and part time job at once!
Mary says:
I agree with the others – you are totally gonna kill it with all the forethought you’ve put into everything! And who knows, maybe you’ll get an occasional breather from a class that’s a little easier or less time consuming.
Heather says:
You have it all under control! My only advice is to take it day by day. Don’t let the worries of tomorrow rob you of the joys of today. Sooo cheesy right? I think you are smart to plan some fun things and to treat yourself too. I would add one more to that list. Every time you get a paycheck treat yourself to something even if it’s little like a new lipstick. It makes all the work seem worthwhile.
Honeycutt says:
I’m glad we’re both watching mad men. I did my own marathon a few weeks ago: i watched all four seasons in two weeks.
It’s really impressive that you’re taking on four grad classes AND working thirty hours a week. Let me know how it goes.
Marlena says:
You’re off to a GREAT start, give yourself more credit! Also, a wonderful service for food planning is E-Mealz ( http://e-mealz.com/ ) You can do specific dietary plans AND the menus are based off the local sales in your area. It’s only $5 a week and friend, it sounds well worth it for your sanity. They even prepare your grocery lists (organized) – MAGICAL. All you or Michael have to do is pick up the goods (on a weekend) and throw them together according to the day. At the moment they offer low carb, gluten free, low fat, portion control, and vegetarian meal plans under the special diet areas. Trust me, we’ll be doing this as soon as they have vegan options! Plus we’re weird and only eat vegan 5 days a week….they do not yet have “unique” options for people like us. ;-)
Delia says:
My lifesaver is to cook most of my meals on Sunday. In 2 hours, I can cook for the entire week and we eat leftovers every night. Though I usually save sides for the day of. I’ll also grill a big package of chicken to use for lunch, or an extra meal. It makes the evenings so easy when you’re getting home late with a starving toddler. Also, I try to come up with ways to use things in different meals – tacos one night, quesadillas the next. Also, the freezer is my friend! Good luck!
Amanda says:
So, via twitter I’ve already been cheerleading you but I’m going to blog comment it too because it seems more real. Which is ridiculous, but whatever :)
You can do it. You really really can. I know this because a) it’s not forever and b) you’ve intentionally scheduled in sanity saving measures. My advice is to try your hardest to actually make sure that you are vigilant about that transition time between study/work to getting to bed. Somedays, yes, you will just crash from one to the other. But taking 20-30 minutes to wind your mind down before going to bed will help you sleep more soundly, and if you’re anything like me good sleep = happy girl :)
Jennifer Bohrer says:
Yay for being organized! I did the same work/school thing too. I liked to iron and line up a week’s worth of clothes on Sunday. I would set up the iron board in front of the TV, pop in a movie and flatten like crazy. It can be very intimidating when you show up dressed up every day…. Plus it saves time in the morning you could use on your hair or patting the dog, smooching….whatever!
Chrissy (The New Me) says:
This sounds like a great plan! I have found that planning out my day the night before makes me a million times more focused, centered and productive – and that includes scheduling fun time, which you did (Mad Men is the best!). Did you get my sadly belated email about this situation? I hope so and I hope that it was some help, even just in the rah-rah-you-can-do-it sense.
You are a smart and passionate lady. Those two things will take you farther than anything else!
CookinwVictoria says:
You are not crazy, YOU CAN DO THIS! All it takes is planning and you got it! Keep on top of your planning and you are set!!!! I agree with the planning the days out, but don’t get stressed and freak out when you have interruptions :) keep calm, and say a little prayer! You will do AWESOME!!!!
Sarah Johnson says:
Love the plan! It’s crazy but YOU can DO it!
Katherine Price says:
Let’s face it, a girl needs a Mad Men marathon every once in a while ;) This is so helpful, thank you for the schedule/goals list! I will be stealing the outline.
jen says:
i can tell you that you will be just fine, i did the same thing, plus helped raise a teenager and get married…just remember to breathe!
Julie says:
Wow. Well you have a plan and that’s a start. Not to be a debbie downer, but is there a reason why you can’t do school part time since you have to work your job full time? Full time school and full time work; that will be quite the journey!! It’s only for a season. It won’t last forever. That is something you should remind yourself when the times are crazy.
Kyla Roma says:
My goodness- you’ve taken on a lot Lauren!! Just remember to be moderate and be kind to yourself- downtime is crucial! You’ll do an amazing job getting through this, I know it <3
Jennifer Whetham says:
Darling Lauren,
Yes, yes, yes, you CAN.
What I admire most about your plan is that you have scheduled in a “date night” with your husband. So many marriages fall apart when life gets busy. My parents both worked full-time, raised five children, and participated actively in our church . . . but they always, always, ALWAYS, once a week, had a “Romantic Dinner.”
They still have it (I got to cook it a few nights ago as I’m home visiting for a while.)
As a teacher myself, I watch students juggle all kinds of things. I once had a young woman in a 7AM class who was a single mother with four kids (all under 8.) No joke, that. And I had this rule for the final portfolio (like the final exam.) I was going to collect them at 7AM and I wouldn’t take any late assignments.
So I show up at 6:45 to the classroom and there is this young mother sitting there. It turned out that when she was printing her paper, she had run out of ink. So she went to the Walmart to get a new printer cartridge and they didn’t have the one she needed. She was so worried and upset that the manager of the store went home and got HIS printer cartridge (because it was the one she needed.) I can’t remember the timeline, exactly, but it worked out that by the time all this had happened, it was almost time for class. So she got to school super early despite all that drama.
I thanked her and congratulated her, of course, awed and humbled at her story. And when a young man with no children who still lived with his parents came in at 7:03 with no portfolio and told me that his printer had run out of ink . . . well, I looked at this beautiful young woman and I had to say, “sorry, I can’t accept late work.”
The reason I tell you THAT story is because when you’re pushed to the limit like that you discover internal resources and a drive and a determination you didn’t know you had.
I do a lot of hot yoga, and the instructor I just love will sometimes remind us, as we lie on the floor trying not to gasp for breath or cry or leave the room because it’s SO hot and we’re SO thirsty and SO tired, that there is a part of us that loves this, or we wouldn’t show up, again and again.
And when I look at the way my body changes as a result of that intensity, my muscles stronger, my skin tighter, my thighs firmer, my stomach flatter . . . it’s a physical reminder that the hard work IS paying off.
So I would look at this experience as a workout for your soul. You’re pushing yourself to the limit and sometimes it is NOT going to feel good. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t absolutely the most perfect thing for you, your family, your destiny.
Blessings!
Jen
Michelle says:
Lauren, you can do it! I made it through six years working, school, volunteering and taking care of my parents. It’s going to be hard juggling everything, but it can be done.
Just remember to take time for yourself amid your crazy chaotic schedule. It can be anything from half hour coffee break with your girlfriends, watching a DVD, giving yourself a pedicure or manicure, going for a walk.
I wish you nothing but the best in your endeavors!
Amber from Girl with the Red Hair says:
It looks like you have a great plan in place. It’ll be hard but you CAN do this!
Good luck!