I'm fortunate to not be working while I go to school but I do have a full life and many interests. So far (three weeks in), I've been able to keep up with the readings and small assignments pretty easily. Things are picking up, though, and as I lay out the reading assignments for myself and see the prompts on the school's internal website that "You still need to submit your work for (....)" I start to have slight heart palpitations. Ie, I was going to go to the grocery store but maybe I need to read all 100 pages of Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy right now.
So I made myself a cup of tea (always a good thing) and wrote out a weekly schedule for this term. First I scheduled when I'm in class or assigned to do some clinical observation. Then assigned day parts for school work (either reading or assignments). Then a few periods for the business of life (groceries, laundry) and a few open periods, just because. Not rocket science at all, but so calming.
Today is the one day when I don't have any school work time scheduled. So even though the books on the coffee table catch my eye or I think about what I want to write for a short discussion post for class, I can defer those thoughts without guilt and know that I have a commitment to attend to that work on Saturday.
I plan to be flexible, of course, but only to opportunities not delays. And it gives me leave to really enjoy and/or be productive in other areas during those times when school work is not scheduled. No more free-floating school work anxiety. Or at least anxiety about when I should be studying.
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