Managing a work-life balance is difficult in today’s fast paced society. However, it can be even more challenging when trying to add school work and study time to the mix. Here are a few tips to think about when trying to keep your life balanced while obtaining your degree.

1. Set aside some dedicated time to work on the degree. Also, set some dedicated time where you won’t work on the degree. For example, you may set aside most of the day on Saturdays to focus on schoolwork. However, after 6pm, set a deadline to leave the work and enjoy an evening with your loved ones or doing something special for yourself.
2. Get cheerleaders. This is an important part of any large goal – and one that is easily neglected. There are highs and lows in every degree program. There are times where you will be riding the wave of learning and times where you’re in a slump. It’s important to have people around you that act as cheerleaders during those tough times. For instance, I had one editor who I asked to be one of my cheerleaders. She’s a well-known woman in the community, very successful, and I admire her. I called her several times when I was feeling in a slump and we did lunch together. This was all it took…seeing someone who was successful who supported me and just having lunch together. It was a big motivator.
3. Getting support of family and friends is also important, but also networking within the degree program is important. I am still good friends today with a woman from my doctoral program. I consider her one of my best friends and we still do a lot of professional collaboration together. Although friends and family provide one kind of support, someone who is going through the same thing as you provides another type of support.

Enjoy the journey and be flexible. You will learn things in this program (both about content and yourself) that you never knew before. Be open to the fact that only the ignorant think they know everything. Keep an open mind and your journey will be much more enlightening.