I'm doing a 20 hour week course with OU, and work 20 hours per week. Need some tips and reassurance!

[AMAZINWOMAN]

I work 20 hours a week in a job working with people and is demanding. I don't even have time for a coffee break!!

I have also signed up for a OU course worth 60 points. It's a professional exam and so many people say they need to study at least 20 hours a week!!

I'm starting to get worried now, about how I will cope. It's the tiredness that I'm really worried about.

I'm also a widow-and have no support with my sons. So I have a pretty demanding lifestyle even when I'm on annual leave!!

I want this course, as I want to change career. I can't afford to give this job up though-which I why i am putting up with it.
But now I am getting worried if I'll cope. I know I can cope with them both separately, but combining them together, am I taking too much on?

Does anybody have any tips on how I will cope? Or really i would like reassurance that other Mums have coped

Hello

I have done some OU courses with little children and a husband who works long hours and is frequently away.

I think if you are clever you can do less hours, but study the areas necessary for the TMAs and the exams, if you don't mind not getting 98% for everything you will be fine. They are demanding, but often very absorbing too, so if it's the right subject for you you might actually enjoy it, and feel like doing it. That's the best way.

What course are you going to do? I might have some pointers. And good luck in your career change.

Good adive - you dont have to study every execrise of every module, just pick and choose the important bits. And do the assignments as you go along (ie after the appropriate topic) rather than leaving it all to the end. I'm sure you will cope admirably - good luck.

Thanks for your replies.

I want to do accountancy, which is a very different career to what I am in now.
My plan is that when I pass my first exam, I will be in a much stornger postition to apply for new jobs. At the moment I have no work experience, so this OU course will be a big positive on my CV.

I hadn't thought about being selective about the areas I study. And I do like to do my best at everything, so I think i put a lot of pressure on myself! I think I will have to put my sights a bit lower.

I do think that having limited time, will mean I have to sit down and study. i know i can't distract myself with cleaning, or Jeremy Kyle!

Its the tiredness that i worry about though. In winter I find it more difficult to concentrate, I have bought a SAD box, so I'm hoping that will do the trick.

hiya

The great thing about the OU is that its not all reading! Even when I am tired theres a cdrom to look at or a dvd - and generally I start to wake up!!!

Try to stick to the timetable if you can. Course work normally arrives early - start straight away then you'll get ahead which is great if you have problems later on.

Good luck

Hi.

I work 20 hours per week, and am also studying with the OU for a degree - now in my 2nd year. I have two teenagers still at school. I'm also studying 2 other courses in accounts and IT. I've found that the OU course has to take priority as work has to be submitted each month, whereas the other 2 courses are more flexible.
I have learnt to read the important bits in the textbooks, (a highlighter is handy for this), and spend more time on the work to be submitted as this counts towards my final pass mark.
I also printed a lot of the study aids on the OU website, these are really helpful. Also, as murphyslaw said, try to stick to the timetable, I didn't and had to spend nearly a whole weekend catching up. When I was typing my monthly work to be submitted, we had a lot of powercuts, (live in the sticks) which hindered me, so it pays to be prepared. I've learnt this the hard way.
My plan is to have a well-paid and satisfying job so I can live without worry and also help my kids financially as they are absolute angels and I don't know what I'd do without them. They've had a tough time with my exH, and deserve a better life.
Good luck, you'll be fine.
P.S. I get low in the winter, where can I get a SAD box you mentioned?

I've been doing OU courses for a few years. I have 5 children and am a doula (not the most regular of hours lol).

I think that you will cope. If you can read ahead and start working on the bits that you can (now) you should be fine.

I'm sure that you'll be able to manage it, you may find that you don't have to study as much as you think.

Good luck with it all.

Are you doing the Certificate in Accounting? I am planning to do that next year too. You must have started now, I hope it's going well.