Ladies good with time management, I need you

[Deleted]

Soo as some of you may know, I decided to change my major back to nursing (I'm really happy with the decision). I'm in the middle of working with my pre nursing classes, and have decided to challenge myself by taking 5 this semester. I have 3 online courses and two classes on Tuesdays and Thursday's. I start at 8 and get done at 12:15. My work schedule is Tuesday's and Fridays from 3-11 and Saturday and Sunday from 9-9. On sat and sun, I'll have access to a computer to do school work the whole time I'm there, 24 hours of nothing but schoolwork. My husband and I have off together on Wed and Thur and he works Monday's 3-11. My question is, if you were me, how would you best set your schedule up so you had optimal time to keep the house tidy, cook for the week, spend time with dh, and get your schoolwork done. I won't be able to answer right away because my phone is dying, but I'll get back on as soon as I can. Just some ideas would be really helpful (it's too late to drop my classes and Im quite sure I can handle five, I just need to figure out a sched that would work well for me. Thanks!

[risscaboobs]

Okay, not flaming in any way, but why can't YH help keep the house clean and cook dinners while you're going to school?

[risscaboobs]

Feb 3, 2015 19:28:07 GMT -5 risscaboobs said:

Okay, not flaming in any way, but why can't YH help keep the house clean and cook dinners while you're going to school?

I just want to know if that's off the table? Because that's my initial reaction haha

[Ray]

I will need a pencil and paper to help you with this lol give me some time. 5 classes is not impossible. I did it but that + work =ed no life for me lol

[teambrink]

I suggest making use of the crockpot and doing some freezer meals. There are also a ton of 30 minute meals recipes that you can find online, especially on pinterest.

[idkcobra]

I'm in the same boat as you! I am in nursing school, have a 2 yo, and work. The only way I've made it work is having my husband help. He works 6-6 shifts so on his days off he cooks and we both clean.

[icequeen]

I think it depends on how much time you need to do work for each class. I would start by looking at each class and set aside a specific amount of time to devote to each one, and allocate those times to specific days where you do work for those classes only. Divide up your work load by due dates, priorities, and leave some time also for writing emails or interacting with other classmates or instructors in case there is something you don't understand or need clarification on. I would also talk to DH and ask him to contribute to cooking and cleaning on the days that he has a lighter work load or is off. Designate days that you cook, or he cleans, or vice versa. It's good to have a plan, especially when you have so much to do. But FWIW, I don't think you will have much of an outside life for a while Kudos to you for taking on this huge challenge, you can do it!

[aprilz81]

My mom went back to nursing school a few years ago and since she had a bachelor's degree in business she didn't need to take anything but nursing classes. The schedule about killed her between classes, homework, studying and clinicals and and the only person she had to "take care of" was my dad.

You will need to keep a calendar of when your exams, quizes and assignments are due and try to work ahead as much as possible. Budget extra time for your assignments because they always seem to take longer than you think they will.

Good luck!

[Deleted]

I will have to have a talk with him about keeping the house in order, because I'm not going to be around as much. He can't cook at all so I still have to be the one to do that, but I'm sure he will be able to learn to help me out with other things. Do you think it would help if I made a schedule for him on what he needs to do each day of the week so he doesn't get confused and overwhelmed?

[Deleted]

Feb 3, 2015 19:28:43 GMT -5 risscaboobs said:

Feb 3, 2015 19:28:07 GMT -5 risscaboobs said:

Okay, not flaming in any way, but why can't YH help keep the house clean and cook dinners while you're going to school?

I just want to know if that's off the table? Because that's my initial reaction haha

He once burnt Ramen Noodles by forgetting to add water

[ubergrun]

Sounds like it's time for YH to learn some cooking basics. It's not rocket surgery. There's a million instructional videos and basic recipes out there. If he gets the basics down, it'll be a whole new world of culinary delights for him!!!

[aprilz81]

Feb 3, 2015 19:58:15 GMT -5 @sangriapirate said:

I will have to have a talk with him about keeping the house in order, because I'm not going to be around as much. He can't cook at all so I still have to be the one to do that, but I'm sure he will be able to learn to help me out with other things. Do you think it would help if I made a schedule for him on what he needs to do each day of the week so he doesn't get confused and overwhelmed?

Just be careful that you don't treat him like a child with a chore list.  There is a big difference between "I need your help with these things" and "here is your daily to-do list".

[pismoduo]

Feb 3, 2015 19:58:15 GMT -5 @sangriapirate said:

I will have to have a talk with him about keeping the house in order, because I'm not going to be around as much. He can't cook at all so I still have to be the one to do that, but I'm sure he will be able to learn to help me out with other things. Do you think it would help if I made a schedule for him on what he needs to do each day of the week so he doesn't get confused and overwhelmed?

I think this is where crockpot meals and pre-cooking stuff will come in handy. If all he has to do is take it out of the freezer and heat it up, he can still make dinner without being a very good cook. Most crockpot meals are basically just adding a whole lot of ingredients and turning it on, so maybe if you just buy the ingredients, bundle them together and put the instructions with them, he can do that?

Making a schedule sounds good, too. Maybe to make it less of a "to do" list for him, you could just set a list of things that need to get done each day, and each of you takes part of the list. On days when you're busy, you take the easy stuff (wash/dry laundry, etc) and he takes the more time consuming stuff (fold/put away laundry). Then on days when he's busier and you're not as busy, you switch.

It's definitely do-able. There was one quarter where H and I both took a heavier course load than we were used to and we were both working part time. There was a little bit of standards lowering that had to happen (for instance, was it really a big deal if the clean laundry didn't get folded and just sat in a laundry basket on top of the dresser?), but we were able to get through it.

[pismoduo]

Feb 3, 2015 20:55:49 GMT -5 ubergrun said:

Sounds like it's time for YH to learn some cooking basics. It's not rocket surgery. There's a million instructional videos and basic recipes out there. If he gets the basics down, it'll be a whole new world of culinary delights for him!!!

This made me giggle.

[teenybenoit]

I'm with ubergrun your hubby is gonna have to learn and hey maybe it isn't always fresh cooked hot meals, you might have to settle for a soup and sandwich kind of night and a tidy when you can but split the actually cleaning between you once a week.
Either way good luck, I think you rock!

[ubergrun]

Feb 3, 2015 21:03:42 GMT -5 pismoduo said:

Feb 3, 2015 20:55:49 GMT -5 ubergrun said:

Sounds like it's time for YH to learn some cooking basics. It's not rocket surgery. There's a million instructional videos and basic recipes out there. If he gets the basics down, it'll be a whole new world of culinary delights for him!!!

This made me giggle.

I think I picked that up from a Holiday Inn Express commercial a few years back. If not, I got it somewhere about 10 years ago...

[PugMum]

My husband was never one to take charge of meals. Now that I work 55-60 hour weeks, we meal plan together on weekends and he does the groceries. Since we've meal planned together - he is invested into the meals for the week. He normally cooks as long as we have the recipe on hand for him.

Perhaps getting him involved with the meal planning and some easy recipes may work?

[PugMum]

Feb 3, 2015 21:22:19 GMT -5 ubergrun said:

Feb 3, 2015 21:03:42 GMT -5 pismoduo said:

This made me giggle.

I think I picked that up from a Holiday Inn Express commercial a few years back. If not, I got it somewhere about 10 years ago...

We've always said that it's not "rocket science"

[butlerfan]

Also, freezer meals ahead of time. Or if making a meal double it and freeze the other half.

Also, make a "to do list" for each day to keep you and husband on track for what needs to be done today and whovis responsible for that item.

[pismoduo]

Feb 3, 2015 21:32:15 GMT -5 PugMum said:

Feb 3, 2015 21:22:19 GMT -5 ubergrun said:

I think I picked that up from a Holiday Inn Express commercial a few years back. If not, I got it somewhere about 10 years ago...

We've always said that it's not "rocket science"

I alternate between rocket science and brain surgery.

[Deleted]

Feb 3, 2015 21:13:55 GMT -5 @sluttybigb00bz said:

.I've been there, working 7 days and taking 4 grad classes while my husband ran a business. It was so hard but we did it! It is worth it and you will be proud of yourselves in the end.

Are you sure you csn do schoolwork the whole time at your job?! If so, where can I get a job like that!? I used to bring schoolwork to both my waitressing and bank teller jobs, but counting on getting homework done at your job sounds risky.

I love the freezer meal suggestion, especially if your husband is a nightmare in the kitchen. Or if you can prep something he just has to put in the oven while you are on your drive home.

For chores I would do one thing a day so it's only 10 or 20 minutes a day and you don't feel overwhelmed. Together 2 people can get a decent amount done in that time frame!

I work security. Two days a week I'm on the psych floor chasing after drunk people, and then for 12 hours on sat and 12 hours on sun I hand out visitor badges at a computer, luckily it's at a quiet entrance to the hospital. Online students dream job, lol

[risscaboobs]

I'm taking classes (online) again now too. Not 15 hours though... go you. I am only taking 9, and I'm in my last semester. PP's have already given you such great advice. You really just need to talk to Mr. Pirate and he needs to help you out. This isn't the 1950's (or earlier) and expecting you to have the career, go to school, AND still be the housewife is not reality.

About the cooking, when MH and I first got together he knew how to make NOTHING. Not even macaroni and cheese. I have a very fond memory of him saying he could make it and seeing him fill up the pot with water and pour the noodles in before the water was boiling. LOL Anyway, my point is that he did learn and now he can make a variety of "basic" meals such as spaghetti, chili, soups, baked chicken, etc.

I feel like I'm just rambling now... lack of sleep. I digress.

[sunfrogger88]

Get him invested in the meal planning. I agree you need to not shoulder everything at home still. Although it's dad that that's still how women think and men don't have that mindset at all. /end equality rant

Get a planner and block out your time. If you can set a strict schedule and deal with it it will help.

Plus slow cooker, soup nights, Freezer meals, all good ways to make easy meals! Just make pasta or rice to go with it and Tada!!