Nursing school Survival Tool Kit: How to balance work, school, and Life!
We all remember how it felt to get that nursing school acceptance letter! The rush and the flurry of emotions as we contemplated the journey we were about to embark on! How our lives would be changed and the lives WE would change. We were warned that classes could get hard and clinicals were long and let's not forget about the countless hours of studying that was needed to be successful. We did our best to prepare ourselves for the journey ahead but sometimes “the best laid plans………goes awry”.
It seemed that for some of us no amount of planning could save us from feeling like we are drowning under the weight of our responsibilities as nursing students. Some of us still have to maintain jobs (full time, Part time, PRN), care for families, be there for friends, try to get enough sleep, drink enough water, get in exercise, find time for self-care, stay on top of our mental health and I haven’t even mention school yet! School brings its own set of challenges. We have to find time for classes, clinicals, lab, check outs, quizzes, test, practice our skills, and studying (a minimum 20 hours recommended weekly)! That’s just to name a few. How can we possibly balance it all?
Everything I’ve said so far would have the average person thinking to themselves why would anyone put themselves through this? The good thing is nursing students are not just average people. It takes an above average person with the passion for caring for others, to put themselves through this type of rigorous coursework with all its demands on the our time, body and mental health. Nursing Students are simple AMAZING!
While all of this is definitely challenging and overwhelming it is doable! With the right strategies you can be more than successful in balancing your studies, your work and your personal life. Below are some simple tips that can help you become a Balancing Expert:
Time Management is Key:
Plan ahead by using planners, apps, or calendars to track assignments, exams, work shifts, and personal commitments.
Break tasks into smaller chunks to make large assignments or study sessions more manageable.
Prioritize your tasks by deadlines or importance, and try to stick to your schedule as closely as possible.
Loop your friends and family in on your schedule so they can not only understand why you are so busy but also play a part (babysitting, cooking dinner for you, taking your car to get work so you have more time to studying etc…etc..etc..) in helping you achieve your goals.
Create a Study Routine:
Set a consistent study schedule. Even if you have a busy life, dedicating specific times to studying or revising can make a big difference.
Find a study environment that works for you (mines was Panera bread)—some people need complete silence, while others can focus better with background noise.
Stay Organized:
Keep all your nursing materials, notes, and textbooks in an organized manner so that you can easily access them when needed.
Use digital tools to stay organized, like note-taking apps, or productivity apps
Leverage Support Systems:
Study groups can be helpful to stay on track and learn from peers.
Talk to professors or mentors when you feel overwhelmed—they often offer flexibility or additional resources.
Seek support from family and friends, as their encouragement can provide motivation.
Self-Care is Vital:
Prioritize your health by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and exercising.
Find small moments during the day for relaxation—take short breaks, practice mindfulness, or indulge in a hobby.
Learn to recognize your stress triggers and use coping mechanisms like deep breathing or taking walks.
Set Realistic Expectations:
Accept that you might not be able to give 100% to every aspect of your life at once. It’s okay to occasionally ask for help or make compromises.
Set boundaries between work, school, and personal time. Avoid taking on too much work if it will interfere with your studies or health.
Be Flexible and Adjust:
Life as a nursing student will often require flexibility. You may need to adjust your plans depending on unforeseen events or opportunities.
Be willing to reassess your schedule when things aren't working out.
Hopefully, you can add these things to your toolkit to help you be successful in nursing school! It is not always easy to balance school, work, and life. But while you are working on finding a balancing act that works for you it is important for you to show yourself some compassion. The same compassion you show to the patients that you work with on your jobs and on your clinical sites. As you get used to this balancing act it will become like second nature and things will feel more manageable. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to balancing everything as a nursing student. You figure out what works for you in the moment and make adjustments as you go!
