It has begun.
The sheer madness of taking a full-load of college courses in addition working full-time has dawned, and for the next four months I’ll be spending Monday-Saturday either working or burrowing myself in the following studies:
-Psychology
-Art (Elementary Sketching)
-American History
-Algebra
I’m actually thrilled about the first three classes, especially since one of them pertains directly to my major. However, the last class of the week is math….on a Saturday….for four straight hours. That’s my own personalized version of hell. In light of the loathsome study , I’ve even formulated a basic equation that can further illuminate my sheer hatred of variables, PEMDAS, and numbers:
4 hours of Math + Saturday -time I could be spending at a Farmer’s Market= Disgruntled Chelsea
As the harsh florescent lights in the classroom burned into my skin Saturday afternoon, I just kept reassuring myself that it will be over in the blink of an eye, and all well worth it once I’m in graduate school. Also, for those fellow impoverished students out there, I highly recommend you check out bookrenter.com. Unless of course, you really want to hold onto that riveting Geology textbook forever and ever.
Since I’m going to be one busy beaver for the next four months, and I don’t want my healthy habits to fall to the wayside, here are some ways that I plan on incorporating a healthy diet and fitness regieme into my harried little life:
Act like a Girl Scout: In other words, be prepared! Since I’m out of the house most days from 7am-9pm, I’m packing lunches, snacks, and my gym bag every night before I haul off early the next morning. That means planning meals ahead of time, cutting veggies, having a readily available supply of snack bars, trail mix, dried fruit, and nuts.
Schedule work-outs like doctor’s appointments: Contrary to what the Rolling Stones may believe, time is not on my side. Ergo, I have to really seize those rare windows of time when I can actually hit the gym. Thankfully, my gym is located right around the corner from my office and I workout in between the two hour period work and school. I’ve also started taking a brisk walk during the second half of my lunch-break to add a little movement to my day.
Make sleep a priority: We’re all familiar with the idea of the cliched college student cramming or finishing up a term paper until the wee hours of the morning. However, what’s the use of writing a paper at all when your mind has deteriorated into mush thanks to major sleep deprivation? Time management is my best friend, and prioritizing my to-do list. Certain leisure activities such as television, leisure reading, and sadly, even blog writing/reading will have to take a back seat to more pressing academic responsibilities in order to get everything done before I catch some zzz’s.
Sunday is the Studying Sabbath: Sunday is my only completely free day and it will be used to study, work on major projects, papers, and reading. That is, only after having a hearty, leisurely breakfast and accomplishing mental invigorating yoga or a long run. I figure the meal and the exercise will help aid in desperately needed mental lucidity.
Another thing I know I need to look out for is stress eating. I know when the mid-term sweats start kicking in, I need to resist from impulsively reaching for these types of treats:
That’s not to say I haven’t reached for a handful of the pictured goodies after a particularly exhausting day of work and school, traffic-filled drives home, or that fight I got into with a horrible, selfish woman at the gas station the other day…
I’ve managed to successfully avoid the fast-food traps that on-the-go lifestyles are vulnerable to. Tupperware and my gym bag are my new best friends, and I’ve been reaping their benefits these past couple weeks.
So if you see less of me on the blog, it’s not that I don’t love y’all or don’t want to share the amazing foods I’ve been discovering (especially those bacon-wrapped, walnut stuffed date appetizers I had the other night), it’s just that I’m knee deep in textbook reading, property managing, commuting, or using what little spare time I have to sweat it all out at the gym.
How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle when you’re constantly out of the house, and have little free time?
i’m exhausted just reading about your schedule! i think it’s all about creating a routine – once you get the hang of it, it will just seem normal. also being sure to cut yourself a break sometimes is important too!
congrats on starting school along with the job – sounds like the new cali life is off and running. i’m wishing you lots of luck!
wow – you are a busy bee! that was my summer, essentially – working full-time, taking a full course load and interning. it was nuts! but i survived somehow, as will you. planning is certainly key but you’ve gotta let yourself go every once in awhile – take yourself out to lunch if you have some extra cash, that kinda thing. life is short! i think those few breaks i took – dinner with a friend, skipping workouts, etc – really saved me in the end. keep us posted!
I actually majored in math so I loved my university math classes. But four hours in one go can be pretty intense.
Linear algebra was also my least favourite math course too :S
Good Luck!
I’m so excited for you! Though you’ll be incredibly busy, I think you’re really going to love being so stimulated. And, of course, you’re going to do so well.
Holy cow you’ve got a full schedule! I couldn’t do it! Working full time and school full time was always a struggle. Probably because I didn’t keep sleep as my priority.
even on vacations I pack snacks…when you are STARVING you’ll end up eating cookies/cakes/ETC!! danger zone. And girl, I’m a stress eater too so I hope this semester goes well. Let me know if you need to vent..but good luck..this is a very very exciting time in your busy life!
I think managing a busy schedule is all about planning, preparing, and planning some more! Sure, things will happen that are outside of your control, but if I can start the day with my bag and lunch already packed and ready to go – it makes the next 12 hours that much more manageble
I love those almond cookies from TJ’s. Yummmm.
i love your tips! i too spend a lot of time running from jobs to class to home to jobs…. preparation is key. i pack meals, a snack, and gym bag to grab before i head out each day. i don’t maintain good eating and exercise habbits, i dont have enough energy to make it thru the day. ok, a little half caf iced espresso helps too!
i am SO pumped for you lady! you are going out, pursuing what you want to pursue and i applaud you for that. no need to apologize for being MIA…you are on to bigger and BETTER thangs!
anyways, i *LOVE* your tips. in fact, i need to use them myself. i think my biggest help for busy days is exactly what you said: PLANNING. take the time to prep things before hand, and it makes EVERYTHING easier.
lots of love to you!
good luck with that math too – i do NOT envy you on that front
I feel your pain! I just started full time in the grad program and I am keeping my 40 hour a week job to boot. I get to work by 6:00am 5 days a week and don’t get out of class 3 nights a week until 9:20pm. Just reading that someone else is as busy as I am made me feel a little better, so I hope I have done the same for you. You are right, it will be so worth it in the end!!
Apples are my favorite back up snack for anytime, anywhere. They can survive all week in a backpack and still taste good. Plus they offer a boost equal to a cup of coffee for when the long day catches up to you.
Good luck on your studies.
Thanks for the support and well-wishing Jami. It’s definitely reassuring to hear about someone in a similarly busy boat. Best of luck to you, too!
hey! glad your back! I haven’t caught up in a while haha
I HEAR YA with the busy schedule. I have quite a jam packed one myself coming up. bookrenter looks pretty good- thanks!
as for maintaining healthy lifestlye on-the-go, I try to plan as much as possible. always have healthy snacks and such ready, and try to squeeze workouts in whenever, may it be even a simple walk. I usually have everything ready to go the night before so when I wake up, I just kinda grab and go!
I definitely try to plan my meals ahead of time and keep healthy snacks available!