Every college to do list looks a little bit different and mine is no exception to the rule. If you’ve been around the blog very long you’ve probably picked up the knowledge that I’m a non traditional college student (because I’m also a single mom). Regardless of what your college status is (traditional, non-traditional, just starting out, or a fifth year senior) it is really helpful to have a base to do list. I used to incorporate my homework assignments I to my to-do list, which just made it terribly long and something that stretched on for months and months. Using this method caused things to get missed, forgotten, or not done on a regular basis as they should be.
The older I get the more I want things to be just so. Now that I’m in my mid twenties (getting a little past that average college girl age hut still going strong.) I really feel like I ought to look like I have it together, and I really want to have it all together. One thing I’ve come to discover, is I stress about possible upcoming stress more than current stresses. Yes, you read that stress mess entanglement right. When I get stressed I get cranky and hard to live with (but don’t we all). To prevent this I made a daily to do list, and switched up how I track homework assignments and their due dates.
We will start with the bonus of this post: how I track assignment due dates. I started using the reminder feature on Google Calendars. It really helpful and definitely allows for a visual. You can set the reminder time for either ahead of the due date, or exactly when the assignment is due. Then, when you make the reminder as done, it will move it to the day you did it and mark it off. This let’s you keep track of both due dates, and when you are doing the work.
Now on to the meat and potatoes of this post. We will get right down to what is on my “Todo list” in just a moment, first I wanted to explain some personal asperations of mine. While I want to be a pulled together mom and a hard working student, I don’t want to be short, cranky, or boring. I would love to be the laid back college student, and the laid back fun mama. Instead of making a super cut and dry to do list so to speak, I added a little fun mama flair.
I used the color note app on my phone to make the lists (I use it for a lot of things like plotting blog posts to even writing out homework assignments). I titled my list: Relax, it’s over in ____ weeks. You can fill in the blank with how many weeks are left in your semester. I have nine items on my list which are a celtic mix of college student and moming.
1.) Laugh and sing the ABCs:
This goes along with my three must do for preschool aged kids. If you want to read all about it check out my post here. If not, we will continue. The “laugh” part is to remind myself not to be the alphabet Nazi. Heck, I might even skip around the house singing the ABCs with my little girl!
2.) Count to 10 or sing the little Indians song.
This is the second part of my 3 must dos for children in the preschool age group. Here’s you another opportunity to read the post, if you didn’t take the one above.
3.)Feed some Animals
My daughter often says we could open up our own petting zoo we have so many pets! And I have to agree with her. Each day I do a 15-30 minute pet feeding spree to freshen water and feed the various pets around our home!
4.)Do some sort of learning/preschool activity.
This is a fun one we strive to do Monday through Friday. There are endless possibilities for learning activities and creativity. This makes for a great bonding moment as well.
5.) Focus during class, this way you don’t have to put so much effort in at home.
This one would seem like an automatic, but reading the daily reminder is a great was to keep me focused.
6.) Bonding time with an Outting or playing on the floor.
This is a time that I love over breaks, and not something I want to give up, even when I’m bogged down with all the work, and classes. You really just have to prioritize your time!
7.) Bathtime:
Bathtime takes us forever, like an hour and a half sometimes for the whole process. So I decided to drastically cut this down and do 15 minute baths for both my daughter and I.
8.) Check in with the status of cleaning things (ie laundry, floors, countertops, and bathroom).
House keeping, aww yes, my new mission so to speak. Even when I’m bogged down with so many other things, I decided to to a quick check in in these house keeping areas. (Totalling about 20-30 minutes a day depending on the tasks that need done.) I figured if I keep up with it, then (maybe) it won’t get out of hand.
9.) Dive into some of the piles of homework you’re behind on.
Finally we’ve come to what college is all about, the homework. Each day I want to tackle some kind of project for assignment so I don’t get behind (or wait till the last minute) and become a cranky stressed out mum.
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