Many caregivers are students, too, and are constantly trying to combine busy school schedules with demanding jobs. Finding the time to complete homework, manage your class and work schedules, fulfill your employer’s needs, and stay on top of everything else going on can make you feel like you’re going crazy. And that’s true no matter what type of care job you’re in — whether you’re a babysitter or nanny, a dog walker or pet sitter, a tutor or housekeeper, or a senior caregiver or home health aide.
But there’s good news: there are best practices that you can use to stay in control of your schedule and meet all your obligations. Here are six tips to help keep you sane.
- Define Your Schedule and Plan Ahead
Having a well-defined schedule is the easiest way to stay on top of your commitments when you’ve got a lot going on. It’s also important to plan for the unexpected.“Plan, plan and then plan,” suggests Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman, a life and executive coach and author of “Overachiever’s Anonymous Book.” She suggests planning your day, your week and your month. Because you have so many intersecting things going on, you need to plan time for your job, your school, your family and yourself. She also recommends planning “white space”, the things you don’t yet know about. Then do your best to stick to the plan.
The more you map your school, work and social commitments in advance, the more you’ll have a working sense of the big picture. And while you may be amazing at multi-tasking, if your schedule doesn’t work on paper, there’s no way you can get it all done. Ask someone else to look at your schedule to make sure you’re not overdoing it.
And make sure you update the availability section of your Care.com profile regularly, to increase your chances of finding a job.
- Cluster Your Commitments
Being a caregiver is a great job for students because it is so flexible. Families are always looking for after-school sitters, summer nannies, part-time in-home care, etc. Look for class times and work opportunities that allow you to group commitments and focus on what’s most important at the moment.“One of the best strategies that worked for me was to schedule classes in the mornings, and work in the afternoons,” says Jessica Ullrich, a certified teacher who babysat throughout her college and graduate school experience. “The more I could combine my school and work commitments into different parts of the day or week, the easier it was to get ahead. When school was very hectic, I would take babysitting shifts on the weekends and focus on school during the week.”
- Focus on the Moment
When you have a lot going on, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and jump from task to task — never really getting anything done.“Be present with what you are doing,” says Dr. Lamm-Hartman. “When you are with your family, you are with your family. When you are doing school work, you are focused on school work. If you have thoughts about other things to do for work when you are doing school assignments, keep that list next to you to write down your to do list, and then continue to complete your school assignment.”
- Use Time Gaps Wisely
Finding time to complete class reading or handle small projects for your employer can be one of the most challenging aspects of a crammed schedule. Ullrich recommends making the most of these windows. Read or work on a paper while the kids that you’re babysitting are napping or at soccer practice. Apply for jobs or handle invoicing when you’ve got time between classes. - Manage Expectations With Open Communication
The more open you are with your employers about your schedule needs, the happier everyone will be. For example, if you need to go right to class after work, let your employer know you’re unable to stay late.“Family conferences and meetings with work colleagues can really help manage expectations,” says Dr. Lamm-Hartman. Your responsibilities and availability may vary from week to week and month to month based on work and school schedules. Open communication will keep everyone on the same page and avoid issues like having to back out of a job last-minute and leaving your employer hanging.
READ MORE: “5 Real Caregiver Relationship Problems“
- Take Time for Yourself
Balance isn’t just about finding enough hours in the day to attend class, finish your homework and handle your caregiving duties. It’s about prioritizing some time to do things for yourself or spend time with people you love.“Try to do one thing a day for 20 minutes that is just for you, whether that is drinking a latte, taking a walk or reading a portion of your favorite book. Also, when you can’t focus and complete what you want to complete, remember to take a short break,” suggests Dr. Lamm-Hartman.
Ullrich agrees. “Sometimes the most important thing is to take a few hours and do something that’s not related to what’s stressing you out. Do something that energizes you or recharges your batteries. Then you can get back to school work or playing with the kids you’re babysitting refreshed and ready to take on the world.”
Balancing everything can be a challenge when you’re working and going to school. But planning ahead, remembering your priorities and indulging in a little self-care will give you the energy and focus to get it all done — and preserve your sanity in the process!
Liz Alton is a freelance writer from Massachusetts. You can find her writing and ghostwriting on business, technology and travel in publications ranging from the Huffington Post to Forbes.
