Unlike traditional students, adult learners (Later Gators at UHD) must carefully orchestrate multiple demanding roles, requiring strategic planning and efficient time management. The key is developing systems that allow for academic success while maintaining family bonds and job performance.
- Managing your schedule
- Utilizing support resources
- Embracing technology
- Goals and Priorities
Creating a detailed schedule is essential, but it must remain flexible enough to accommodate unexpected demands. Many successful adult students block out specific study times, treating them as non-negotiable appointments while building buffer zones for family emergencies or work obligations.
Later Gators have had life experience, and some find early morning hours before the family wakes or late evenings after children’s bedtime to be their most productive study periods. Others maximize lunch breaks at work for reading or completing assignments.
- ToDoist: You can track time to block out an hour to study, manage your work and school schedules, and view productivity insights to improve your workflows. The free version might not be able to manage everything on your plate, but if you try the free version and like it, upgrading is not a hassle.
- MS Office: Using calendars for work, school, and personal items can seem overwhelming. Outlook will let you view a single calendar at a time or merge your calendars for an ‘overlay’ to see where you may have conflicts or free time. A helpful tip is to block out time for yourself, even 15 minutes, to check your calendars and make notes of what you need to do that day, and the next. All students at UHD can access their Microsoft Office applications with their UHD Gator login.
- Sharing calendars: Google and Outlook
Support systems prove crucial for Later Gators who are juggling multiple responsibilities. This might involve having frank discussions with family members about shared household duties, arranging childcare swaps with other parents, or negotiating flexible work hours with employers. Many find that explaining their educational goals to family members, especially children, helps build understanding and cooperation. Children can learn valuable lessons about lifelong learning by watching their parents pursue education.
- Tutoring can be helpful if that last math class you took, or that last English assignment, is older than some of your children. The Academic Support Center offers free tutoring for all UHD students to improve their writing, reading, math, and statistics skills.
- Family Houston has resources for childcare, employment, financial assistance and education, food, health, housing, legal, and resources if you are in a domestic violence situation.
Technology can be a valuable ally in managing competing demands. Digital calendars shared with family members, meal-planning apps, and online grocery delivery services can streamline household management. Recording lectures for later review during commutes, using text-to-speech apps for required readings, and participating in online study groups can help maximize limited study time. Many Later Gators also find that online or hybrid courses offer valuable flexibility.
- Share calendars in Outlook, Google, and iCal to keep everyone coordinated
- Use a meal planning app to avoid the “What’s for dinner” conversation. Ask family members to chip in, and do prep work, or clean-up so you can return to your studies.
- Grocery delivery and scheduling a pick-up can save you time and energy. Check your favorite store app and see if they offer pick-up that you can schedule ahead of time.
- If you need to update your technology on a budget, check out the UHD IT Surplus as UHD sells surplus computers at a low cost to students
Self-care cannot be overlooked when balancing multiple responsibilities. While it may seem counterintuitive to take breaks when time is scarce, maintaining physical and mental health is crucial for long-term success.
This might mean protecting sleep hours, maintaining regular exercise (even if brief), or preserving small pockets of time for relaxation. Some adult students find that combining activities – like reviewing flashcards while walking or listening to recorded lectures during household chores – helps maintain balance.
- A healthy sleep schedule will give you the energy and focus you need to get through your day and process the information you are learning.
- Sometimes you need someone to talk to. There are apps for mental health and student resources through UHD.
- Meditation, a regular walk, even reading or listening to music can help give you a break from the focus that work and school require. Try to schedule 10 to 15 minutes to yourself and focus on your breathing and peace of mind.
The journey of returning to school later in life as a Later Gator requires accepting that perfection is not always possible. Many successful adult learners report that learning to prioritize tasks, being willing to occasionally say no to non-essential commitments, and maintaining perspective about long-term goals helps them persist.
While the juggling act is demanding, many find that the example they set for their children and the personal satisfaction of pursuing education make the challenge worthwhile.
