Struggling with the juggling

[goldenlilliesdaffodillies]

Hi all, I am in my final year of a part time MA (healthcare related) which involves a tough placement. I am about to start my dissertation, but have other assignments due in as well. I work 3 days in 2 different jobs and have a family. I am a very mature student and feeling really overwhelmed with juggling everything. The house is mess too. I really need some tips on how to keep all those balls in the air please. The things I struggle with most is managing the technology and keeping on top of e-mails and online training. I have 5 different e-mail accounts- 2 for work, 1 for university, 1 for placement and a personal e-mail. I am rubbish at technology and so don't know how to organise everything on my computer to make it manageable. Any tips and advice to help me get through this final year will be gratefully received! Many thanks.

No helpful tips sorry but i love the thread title. I'm also struggling with the juggling

That all sounds horrendously busy, OP! If you were at the start of your course I would have suggested signing up for whatever tech courses are available through your university - but it’s a bit late and you probably don’t have time for that now.

So - I suggest you throw money at the problem. Stick a notice up on a university wall, concrete or online, offering payment to a patient and tech-minded student to edit and simplify all the various strands of tech currently complicating your life. I’m pretty sure they could do this, and guide you through it, over two mornings or afternoons.

Does it matter if your house is messy? You surely can’t be doing much entertaining at the moment? If it’s really bothering you, or making organisation difficult, I suggest you find out the going rate for a cleaner in your area. Even an hour every other week would make some difference.

Re emails
Could you run them all through gmail?

Your work might not allow it but the other three addresses can go through one place maybe. How come the work placements have a separate email?

Your family - do they do their share round the house?

When I did my post grad, i had to schedule really strictly. I worked long hours, had classes two nights a week.

So look at your available study time and do the allocation eg Tuesday night next assignment, then Wednesday for a bit of the dissertation.

Oh sorry, link for connecting to gmail

business.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-combine-all-your-email-accounts-into-one-gmail-account--cms-21305

I work, study and have 2DC. My advice is to cut out things that don't matter, for me it's gardening (I'm ignoring it) and ironing (just shake and hang) and things are cleaned randomly when I have time except for kitchen surfaces which I clean regularly. Pasta and pizza with beans/veg are fine for meal options, add in a can of tuna if you need more protein.

Be aware of deadlines, but always prioritise the one coming up first. Use a calendar to write deadlines then work back to log when you'll study between days that you know will be impossible. If you need to apply for extenuating circumstances as highly stressed and issues impacting you (e.g. health) be honest and get in early, but it can put pressure on the next activities.

Remember why you are doing this to motivate yourself to complete it.

Redirect emails to one account if you think it will help, but personally I go between four, and two learning platforms and mixing it up would confuse me.

Thanks for all the replies- they're really helpful. I think part of the problem is I changed computer to a Mac. It's so different to my old computer- thing's just seem to vanish into a cloud and I can't find them again. I find the IT side of things so overwhelming. My placement is in the NHS and I can only access these in e-mails on the NHS laptop issued, so am juggling 2 computers. The emails from this laptop are relentless and the paperwork/training for the NHS I am having to do is never ending.
Reminding myself why I am doing my course is a good start- as I feel so overwhelmed that I have forgotten! I would be grateful for time management tips. Thanks everyone.

Well I could have written this. The balancing laptops and emails as well as running a house and wfh is cracking me up.

I have a Mac that I use for another part time job and haven’t started using it for Study yet, but I already hate it. I am so glad it isn’t another thing that makes me sound like a dinosaur but I think thats it decided for me, Windows it is! I am going to phase out my old hotmail address I think and I quite to work off one device for one thing. I am considering tying up a gmail account with a Google calendar… or paying for a calendar app???

I don't work but am in my final year of an undergraduate degree and have 3 kids at home aged 19, 8 and 8 plus 3 adult kids who come and go. My partner is self employed and works long hrs so it's often just me doing all the juggling.
The things I find helpful are:

1. A fridge planner - I fill it in every Sunday with exactly where everyone is and when plus housework jobs listed in priority order and what's for tea every day.
2. Every time I sit at my laptop I spend the first twenty mins replying to emails or filing them in folders.
3. I spend at least 1 day per week studying in uni so I don't have any distractions.
4. I make sure I schedule in some fresh air every day as this really clears my head.
5. I break down every uni task into small manageable chunks , eg, read this paper or write a paragraph on x - it's a lot less daunting than 'write a 4000 word assignment'.
6. I try not to do any uni work on a Sunday - we all deserve a break!

I'm not sure if that's any help! As for the technology issues, maybe a chat with someone from IT department might help.