Sasha is a computer programmer who has a demanding job which requires her to travel 4 out of 7 days a week, her boss expects her to travel 4 additional days every month because the department is short on staff. She is a single parent with two children under the ages of 6. She has a built-in nanny who is her mother, however, the mom has not been feeling well lately and is becoming sick more often. She desires to switch careers and wants to earn a master’s degree.

Therefore, she made the decision to take classes online at American InterContinental University this fall. She finds it a challenge doing homework assignments at work because of her demanding travel schedule. At home, she has her little ones tugging at her demanding her attention; and she has worries of her mother’s bouts of illness flaring up at the most inopportune time. Now, Sasha seems like the typical online college student who may have a difficult time balancing family life with college studies.

The advancement of technology and online learning has presented many opportunities for the average individual seeking to further her education, change careers, or take advanced studies to make more money. Adult learners that matriculate in a university while having family, children, and jobs sometimes find it demanding to balance all of these activities. The challenge before them is finding the time to complete assignments, submit the work on time, post to discussion forums, and collaborate with other students to assist in completing group projects. Many students would resort to completing all assignments over the weekend within a day as oppose to spreading the work out during the week. Often times, the demanding life styles prevent the dedication needed to complete a college degree.

Time management becomes a critical factor when making a decision to go back to school as an adult. Therefore, planning, prioritizing and controlling your time during each day are key factors in order to accomplish your goals. Steven Covey’s Seven Habits to Highly Effective People are dynamic inspirational standards for anyone that wishes to live a purposeful life. These could be followed to assist in maintaining a healthy family life while seeking to further your education.

Applying Stephen Covey’s 7 habits of highly effective people will keep you organized and prepare you for much success in the near future. They are as follows:

1. Be Proactive – many times we are reactive when we respond, but it would benefit us more when we are proactive. Being reactive causes you to play the “blame game” when it comes to circumstances occurring in our lives. We all have the power to make choices and choose how we respond to stimulus. Sometimes, you must detach yourself from life and focus on self.
2. Begin with the End in mind – it is important to create a personal vision statement based on your individual life. If education is important in your life, focus on completing your studies and eliminate distractions out of your life in order to become productive.
3. Put First Things First – early on time management was mentioned; organizing and implementing good study habits are of key importance to being successful in finishing your degree.
4. Think Win-Win – the power of positive thinking works well when practiced on a daily basis. I think Steven Covey titles this the habit of interpersonal leadership; it takes more than you to accomplish achievements; many times the help and love of other people efforts.
5. Seek First to understand, then to be understood – although, you should remain positive at all times; you must also maintain positive relationships with others throughout life. Another name for this habit is communication; which is an art. When it comes to academic discipline, it embraces a body of study and knowledge.
6. Synergize – per Steven Covey’s book; the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts because of creativity.
7. Sharpen the Saw – per Steven Covey; this habit is about self renewal; you should preserve and enhance the greatest asset that you have. This means to have a balanced program for self renewal in four areas of your life; physical, social/emotional, mental and spiritual. When it comes to physical; you must eat healthy, exercise and rest. When it comes to social/emotional; you make social connections with others; when it comes to mental; you must read, learn, write, and teach; when it comes to spiritual; you must spend time expanding your spiritual self whether it be through meditation; prayer, attending a church service, music, art, etc..

Living a balanced life takes effort and time and relaxation. You must find ways to balance family, life, school, business and work. There are various strategies that one can use; you must find what will work for you to have a balanced family life with your college studies.