5 Ways Adult Students Can Balance Family, Work and School at CCU

You’ve signed up to begin acquiring your degree from Colorado Christian University and it hits you: How am I supposed to balance college with my already busy work schedule and family life? Well, you’re not alone.

Most adult students have little to no extra time for themselves, but they want the accomplishment of getting their undergraduate or graduate degree. After all, it will not only help further your career, but it can also provide for your family in the long run. Whether you're getting your degree online or on campus, there are many ways to create a balance in order to have a successful semester.

Here are 5 ways to balance your family, work, and school life

Get organized from the start

If you haven’t stepped foot in a classroom for years, there are a few things you need to do from the start of classes to prepare for a successful semester. First, get comfortable with the campus or your online classroom. If you’re an online student at CCU, our professors can assist with the online learning platform.

 Schedule out your semester

Once you begin a course, print out your syllabus and semester schedule. Write down important dates, such as when assignments and exams are due. You’ll want to plan ahead for these, especially if you have children and have to work around their schedules. Speaking of schedules, if your family has weekly activities that you need to work around, make sure to put your school schedule with your family’s so that everyone is on the same page. Finally, know what’s expected of you. Some courses require weekly discussion involvement, so be sure you know everything you need to do in order to succeed.

Recognize your goals

If you’re looking to work toward your degree in a certain amount of time, or if you want to continue your education after you receive your undergraduate degree, write it down! Working toward a goal or multiple goals will help keep you on track. The homework, exams, and balancing your schedule will all be worth it, especially when you know when you’ll complete it all.

Involve your family

Involving your family in your education is important for being able to balance your family, work, and school life. If you have children, chances are that they have homework. Why not do your homework together? Have your kids bring their homework to the table, and you can work on yours at the same time. Having both of you do your homework at the same time will let you keep an eye on them while also getting to spend time together.

Take some time for yourself

One of the most important keys to being a successful adult student is making sure you have time for yourself. With so much on your plate, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some tips.

• Do a daily devotional before you start your busy day.
• If you’re feeling overwhelmed, get a massage or go to the gym. Your health is important!
• If you’re married, communicate with your spouse. Make sure they know that this is important to you and that you need some time to excel!

About CCU’s adult education

The College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Colorado Christian University is dedicated to adult students, and we’re here to make learning easier than ever. Not only do we offer online programs for busy adults, we are flexible with our students to ensure they’re successful in the classroom—whether it’s on campus or online.

Colorado Christian University does not guarantee any job placement as a result of earning this or any other degrees offered by the university.