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One of the biggest challenges I have seen as university professor and relates to time management skills and adult learners. Many of the students and clients that I work with can be classified as "mid-career" professionals, which is a 25 cent term for folks who have reached a certain age in life where they are no longer in the "20-something" crowd but also not in their fifties.

Demographically speaking, one could say that I am considered part of this group.

Adult learners are my favorite kind of student because they are trying to better their lives and station in life through higher education. Here, we are talking about working moms and dads, single parents and down to earth folks who want something better for themselves and their families. I know something about this because I did not return to school until later in life.
Adult learners and time management
New college students who are adult learners find out fairly quickly that if they do not have a proper handle on time-management, something will eventually give. In plain talk, the "give" means grades. As a result of poor time management skills, a cycle of shame and guilt usually sets in for these students, which paradoxically worsens an already difficult situation. I say this because I work with many college students in my role as a wellness counselor in Chicago at the practice I belong to.
Preventing bad habits from starting
During the first week of every undergraduate and graduate course that I teach, I make it a point to address the importance of time management and college success. In doing so, my hope is to help prevent undesirable habits from setting in while encouraging the establishment and promotion of a healthy routine.

What follows are five practical time management tips for adult college students. The list was largely influenced through my own observations over many years working with the adult learner population, coupled with advice that I have gathered from mid-career professionals who have successfully completed a degree.

Let's jump right in!
1. Build college studies into a daily time management schedule
At its core, this means dedicating time each day (or at least a few times a week) to college studies. While this may seem like a no brainer, I can share with you that many adult learners I have met over the years have found themselves in serious academic trouble because they did not carve out time each day for studies. I recommend a minimum of 1 hour a day. A variation of this might be 2 hours a day, several times a week.

2. Use a daily checklist

Hands down, one of the best time management and task related tools that an adult learner can use to stay on track to successful time management in college is the use of simple daily checklist. I personally encourage learners to use good old fashioned pen and paper. Before the end of each night, create a list that focuses on the next day's "To Do's" and make sure several of the items appearing on the list relate to school. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to check-off a given deliverable. Examples include locating a research article or reading a chapter from a textbook.

3. Turn off social media

One of the major challenges I have seen among adult learners relates to study time and social media. Specifically, I am talking about students who are trying to write a research paper while also having Facebook or Twitter open on their desktop. Here is the honest to goodness truth and it may be difficult to hear - essay writing while having social media open is a recipe for failure. My best advice is to simply turn off all forms of social media during study times.

Another helpful tip that many successful adult learners have shared with me is to establish boundaries. Here, I am talking about students giving themselves permission to not answer the phone during dedicated study times. Another boundary example might be asking other household members to keep noise to a minimum.
5. Create accountability
While this may seem like psycho-babble, in truth, creating a network of accountability is a key ingredient for success if the goal is to earn that degree. Here, I am talking about gaining the support of friends, family and loved ones who will gently hold you accountable for your progress. These are the people that can be called upon to vent during stressful times while also helping to remind why the desire to earn that degree came about in the first place.
Bonus Tip
My final tip is offered here as a bonus and it is simply this - Build self-care into the daily routine! Many adult learners have shared with me in the classroom and the counseling office that they feel depleted and stressed out because of the daily grind. When I have asked them about self-care, most all of them have indicated they were sorely lacking in this area. Here is the deal - without wellness, we have nothing.
Summary
There is something very special about adult learners. I want to commend any person who has made the important life decision to earn a college degree while trying to create balance in the areas of family, work and school. Let's be real - it's not easy! The key to making it through with the end goal of a degree in hand is good old fashioned time management skills!

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Websites: 2nd Story Counseling and Couples Counseling Center

Twitter:@secondstory25

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/secondstorycounseling

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Five Stress Management Tips for Adult College Students

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One of the biggest challenges I have seen as university professor and relates to time management skills and adult learners. Many of the students and clients that I work with can be classified as "mid-career" professionals, which is a 25 cent term for folks who have reached a certain age in life where they are no longer in the "20-something" crowd but also not in their fifties.

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http://www.citationmachine.net/
The Citation Machine goal is to help students properly credit the information that they use. Its primary goal is to make it so easy for student researchers to cite their information sources.

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This is a great resource for starting APA style.
http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/index.htm

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Any parent knows back-to-school time can be hectic. Schedules are more rigid with more packed into them like homework and extra-curricular activities. It can be a lot to balance for anyone, but for parents who are also students it can be near impossible at times. That doesn't just mean trying to squeeze in an extra hour or two a week for classes. It means an additional hour or two per class on top of that in study time.

But take heart; if you are a parent in school, you are not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration , 27-percent of all undergraduate students have children. If you are one of them, here are some ideas to make the most of your time and help keep you sane.
Map Out Your Life
Start by arranging your priorities to ensure nothing gets forgotten. Write down all your personal and household commitments in two columns. The first column should be non-flexible commitments like work and school. The second column should be things that need to be done, but not at a specific time or can be flexible like studying, laundry and meal time. Make sure to include everything including spouse's schedule and kids' obligations.

After that is complete make a sheet for each day of the week. Have a line for every half-hour from when you wake up until you go to bed. Transfer the non-flexible commitments to the appropriate day and time of the week until all are crossed off the original list. Make sure to account for travel time too. Once all the non-flexible events are on the schedule, highlight the remaining free time.

In the highlighted area fill in the flexible activities starting with ones that have to be done, like meals, laundry, studying and other chores, working your way down to the ones that are less important or necessary. Be sure to schedule personal time and date nights too, so they don't get sacrificed. They are important to help avoid burnout and recharge your battery.

Once your entire list is crossed off you have a master schedule that will help you better manage your time and alleviate a lot of stress in your life. Being organized and in control also helps you focus better and enjoy your day. Consider sharing or syncing your calendar with your spouse to make sure you are all on the same page. There are several online services like Google calendar you can use.
Plan Ahead and Find Shortcuts
Planning ahead and finding a few shortcuts when possible can help free up even more time in your day. Fast food is tempting when you are busy, but a little planning ahead can save you money and keep your family eating healthier. Find easy, fast recipes online. Search five ingredients or less on the Internet and you will find hundreds of recipes sure to please most palates. Block an hour or two off on the weekend and make meals ahead for the week to freeze. Even breakfast food like pancakes can easily be frozen and reheated in a matter of seconds. Make school lunches before bed to help keep you moving in the morning.

If possible, shower before bed to relax yourself for bedtime and save you time in the morning. Also, arrange carpools for your kids, and be sure to block off time to reciprocate.
Multitask When Possible
Look for opportunities to multitask when appropriate. Throw a load of wash in before you leave the house, so it is ready to go in the dryer when you get home. Tidy up while you are waiting for food to cook or get phones calls out of the way while you are ironing. Keep a tote with your personal to-do items, things like paperwork, bills and thank you notes in your car. Pull it out while you are in carpool line or waiting for a soccer game to start. You may be surprised how much you can knock off in the random few dead minutes between events.

But be careful. Some tasks like studying could actually take longer and be less effective if you try to multitask while doing them. Ample time should be set aside each day to study. Schedule that time when your kids are studying. It is more likely to be quiet and your kids are more likely to stay on task if they see you doing the same.
Ask for Help, Delegate and Say No
Last, but certainly not least, do not be afraid to ask for help or delegate. Split up chores among family members. Talk with your spouse about what extra tasks they may be willing to pick up to lighten your load. Let go of others for the time being, and don't be afraid to lean on friends, extended family and neighbors in a jam. Most are more than willing to lend a hand when they can.

Also, do not be afraid to say "no". Many of us have a tendency to bite off more than we can chew - volunteering at school and picking up extra duties at work. Realize your limits and don't be afraid to say no. The day will come soon enough when you are out of school and can start saying "yes" again.

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Managing School, Kids and Work: Tips for Adult Learners

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Any parent knows back-to-school time can be hectic. Schedules are more rigid with more packed into them like homework and extra-curricular activities. It can be a lot to balance for anyone, but for parents who are also students it can be near impossible at times.

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Going Back to School: Time Management Tips

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Going Back to School: Time Management Tips

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http://www.studentsover30.com/going-back-to-school-time-management-tips/