Tips for Momtrepreneurs Pursuing an Online Degree

You’re the driven type. You are a parent, you run a business, and now you want to get a degree. It’s exciting and intimidating, and yeah, a part of you isn’t really sure how it will work out because every time you turn around. There’s a little person asking you for milk, or a bandaid, or, well just about anything else that pops into their sweet little heads. 

Parents have been figuring out how to do it all forever. It’s a hard road, and there is certainly a price, but it can be done. 

In this article, we take a look at tips for moms pursuing an online degree. 

Consider Online School

Online school is a great way for working moms to seek a degree for a few reasons. For one thing, online learning tends to be more flexible than the in-person alternative. Often, classwork can be spread out throughout the course of a week rather than being relegated to a certain day and time. 

Even when the schedule is more regimented, however, you still wind up saving plenty of time on nuts and bolts things, like your commute. Over the course of a four-year program, you will save hundreds, if not more, hours driving simply by taking classes online. 

It’s also worth keeping in mind that looking for online programs gives you more flexibility in the program you ultimately choose. While students seeking traditional degrees are mostly limited to what is nearby, remote learners can be much more selective. Just another one of the many benefits of eLearning. 

Years ago, online degrees were viewed with a degree of suspicion. That time has long since passed. Now, remote learning is viewed as a perfectly valid form of getting your education, so consider taking advantage. 

Enlist as Much Help as You Can

You know what they say: it takes a village to raise a college graduate. The road ahead will be tough, but having friends and family that can help will be a real lifesaver. Now is the perfect time to survey your support system and find out who is willing and able to help. 

Of course, you don’t want to be a burden, but you may be surprised by how many people are more than happy to pitch in from time to time. 

Know Where to Look for the Time

Your schedule is already fit to burst. How is it possible to add school in while also getting a decent night’s sleep, you know, once every few weeks or so? 

Busy though you surely are, there’s a good chance your schedule isn’t quite as stretched tight as you might first assume. You just have to know how to look for time wasters. Do you have a mindless television show you like to click on for thirty minutes or so every night? It might have to be sacrificed up to your degree. 

Also, take a look at the settings on your phone. There should be a tab somewhere on there that tells you how much time you spend in front of the screen. Gasp! It can’t really be that much, can it? But it probably is. The average person spends hours every day looking at their phones. 

Cut out the social media and mindless web surfing, and apply that time toward getting a degree. 

Move Forward Without Guilt

It’s so hard to do things for yourself as a parent. There’s the time and energy factor, sure. It can seem like your kids need things from the moment they open their eyes in the morning, until the moment they close them at night. And of course, depending on the night goes, you might be hearing from them a time or two again even after that. 

When the odd moment comes along when there is free time, it’s very easy to feel too uncomfortable or guilty to enjoy it. Isn’t there something else that could or should be done? The answer? Yes. There’s always another load of laundry. A sink full of dishes. Cupcakes for a class party that never seems to be any time other than “Tomorrow morning mom!” 

And you’ll do these things, all of them, because that’s part of what it means to be a parent. But you have to remember that you’re also an individual, and that to behave accordingly from time to time is not only perfectly acceptable but also necessary for your own mental and emotional well-being. 

Taking time to pursue a degree is nothing you should feel bad about. You deserve this space, and it will benefit your family in the long run. Remember that as you start taking classes, and remind yourself often. There will certainly be moments when it’s easy to forget. Power through, take advantage of your support systems, and focus on making those grades. It will be well worth it in the long run.