Part time study and work - How do you do it?

[gscrym]

I've just started doing an HNC through homestudy. I work full time and have DS to look after (he's 4). How do you fit everything in? Is it best to have a set schedule for study or just try to do it when you can grab some time. I am more than happy to live in a tip until I get this course finished.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

I work P/T (10 h a week) so not quite the same. I try and do a couple of hours' study every day. Occasionally i'll stay up the whole night if i feel i'm on to something good and want to write it up but it's not often. House a tip - but then it always was. Once a week it gets nice and clean, last about 1/2 day.

I've just finished a two year diploma course, I'm a lone parent to 2, and I work 4 days a week. I don't really know how I managed but I did. I would say try to schedule study time and also do a bit when you can grab a bit of extra time. I used to take my books and do a bit while my ds had his swimming lessons, and I used to do some in the car at football training and matches. I found planning meals in advance helped and cooking double the amounts of curries, pasta sauces etc and freezing some. When I was pressurised by essay deadlines I would start studying in the evenings once the dc were in bed 9pm'ish, go to bed about 1am and get up up at 4.30am. The housework went to pot, once my course was over I took a week off and blitzed the house. It was difficult at the time, but can't have been that bad because I'm now applying to do another course. Good luck with your course.

Thank you so much for the tips. I'm lucky that I work shifts so can fit in a bit if I get up early from nightshift. Also, I'll get time when DS goes to school next year. I think it's going to take about 2 years to do everything.