TOPAre you looking to further your education? Balancing motherhood, student life, and a career is definitely possible, as our very own students and staff can attest! In this article, we’ve prepared some tips to help you better ease into your studies.
1) Work smarter
Having to do your best at work, home and in your studies can stretch you a little thin. Here are two things you can try!
Before turning in for the night or waking up in the morning, why not plan out a to-do list for the day ahead? Don’t fill it up with so many tasks that you get stressed and burn out! Instead, prioritise and list down two things for each role you play that must be accomplished before the day ends. Put your all towards these and reward yourself with a break when you’re done!
You can also explore studying and memorisation techniques such as mind-mapping or using acronyms to help you remember better.
2) Choose a school in a convenient location
A centrally located campus has its benefits! Our City Campus, for example, is located within Marina Square: multiple transport options and its proximity to many commercial districts make it easy for you to head down for classes after a day at the office, and home after. The shorter commute frees up more time for you to rest or revise before class.
Leisure and dining options are also a stone’s throw away if you need to squeeze in some me-time or shopping during the weekend!
We haven’t forgotten about our STEM campus! Located at Jackson Square in Toa Payoh, there are various bus services right outside campus that will take you across Singapore. It is also within walking distance of Braddell MRT and Toa Payoh MRT, making it very accessible.
3) Practice task management
If you find the increase in workload daunting and don’t know where to begin, take a deep breath and remember to take things one step at a time. Breaking huge tasks down into smaller fragments helps you to feel more confident, and enables you to better track your progress!
It might be hard, but avoid juggling multiple tasks at once. Over the years, many studies[i] have found that multitasking inhibits productivity, affecting your concentration[ii] and possibly your memory[iii] in the long run. Instead of multitasking, consider focusing on one task for twenty minutes before switching over to another.
4) Familiarise yourself with the student support services at hand
PSB Academy is committed to helping all of our students excel in their academic pursuits, and we are always willing to help. As a PSB Academy student you will be able to speak with our counsellor if you require a listening ear, or apply for learning support if needed. Our hotlines for career services and course queries are also open, and we accept call-back requests during this home-based learning period.
We also organise regular career clinics and workshops that can help you refresh your knowledge or upskill! You can also attend our networking events to meet other working professionals and strengthen your business connections.
5) Create a family calendar
Organisation will help you greatly as you balance family commitments, studies, and work. To prevent yourself from becoming too overwhelmed with all the events to remember, why not create a family calendar that everyone can easily access and add on to? This will help you avoid schedule clashes and forgotten appointments, which could become a source of frustration and stress.
It’s easy to get a family calendar started. You can opt to go digital and use free apps like Google Calendar, or situate a wall calendar or whiteboard at a central area. Assign each family member or activity a different colour for easier referencing, and don’t forget to set reminders when important events and deadlines near!
6) Don’t be afraid to ask for help
No woman is an island! If you find yourself struggling, reach out to family and trusted friends to see if they’ll be willing to offer a helping hand with things like errands or childcare. If you need some help understanding the course material, why not organise a study session with fellow course mates?
7) Make time for your family and loved ones
Last but not least, do spend quality time with those you care about! Set aside ‘no-work’ hours, and spend them bonding with your family members or friends over things everyone enjoys. The restful break will help you rest and recharge for the week ahead, too.
We hope that you’ve found these tips helpful!
In celebration of Mother’s Day in May, we would like to extend our appreciation to all mums for all their hard work and sacrifice. We wish all of you a lovely day in advance, and look forward to welcoming you to PSB Academy!
[i] https://www.apa.org/research/action/multitask
[ii] https://www.pnas.org/content/115/40/9889.short
[iii] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0106698
