Time Management Tips: How to Balance Work, Family, and School

For some adult students, working full-time and going to school can mean packing lunches at dawn, rushing across town to make it to class and then logging on late at night to finish an assignment after tucking kids into bed. Balancing college and everyday life can be stressful even for full-time students, so it makes sense that adding a full-time job and family responsibilities can intensify those feelings.

The adult learner is not a typical learner in that there are often other roles, responsibilities, and tasks that are occurring simultaneously in their lives. Adding school in the mix creates the challenge of working to balance all of these obligations,

explains Dr. Jenny Good, Associate Professor of Psychology at University of Massachusetts Global. 

At University of Massachusetts Global, we get it. Our online programs are built for busy adult students who have personal, parental, and career priorities outside of school. In fact, 9 out of 10 students work while completing their courses. Many of these students also manage caregiving responsibilities at the same time, with 54% of alumni having one or more dependents while attending their program. The good news? Of our alumni, 90% agree or strongly agree that UMass Global supported their specific needs as an adult learner. ¹

To support students, we’ve created some practical, realistic time management strategies for working adults and parents that can help you stay organized while prioritizing and protecting time for what matters most — while still making meaningful progress toward your degree.

Time Management for Adult Learners

1. Create a realistic schedule and efficient routines

Once you receive your class schedule, identify time in the weeks before the semester starts to build a master calendar that includes work hours, classes, commuting, family commitments, errands, study blocks, and even short breaks. This allows you to see the full picture of your personal, school, and family obligations in one place.

As you map things out, remember that major exams and projects often take more time than expected, so start early and work on them a little each week instead of leaving everything for the last minute. Toward the end of each week, you can shift your focus to editing, formatting and polishing — giving you the opportunity to hand in your best work.

Streamlining everyday tasks can also free up meaningful time and energy for schoolwork and family connection. For meals, consider planning a small rotation of simple dinners, prepping ingredients on weekends and cooking double batches so you can “cook once and eat twice” on busy nights. You can also simplify errands by ordering groceries online or stocking up on necessities to allow more opportunity for uninterrupted blocks of study or family time. The goal is not perfection but consistency: repeatable routines that make life more predictable for you and your family while you are in school.

2. Get everyone on board at home

When you go back to school as an adult, especially with a family in the mix, preparing your loved ones for the commitment is essential. Have an honest conversation with your partner, children, or other household members about your goals, what to expect, and what will need to change at home for the duration of your program.

This may mean your partner picks up extra chores, older kids help with tasks like dishes or lunches, or extended family members step in with childcare here and there. When everyone understands the “why” behind your new schedule, they are more likely to encourage you and help you protect your study time instead of competing with it.

3. Protect your study time and mental energy

Once you have specific study blocks on your calendar, treat them like a standing appointment, and create a space that is free from distractions so you can focus. Protecting this time will require saying no to some social invitations, extra shifts, or last-minute plans, so setting clear expectations with family and friends can help.

The concept of distraction-less moments is becoming increasingly rare in today’s always-on world. But when it comes to productivity, you will be amazed at how much more you can accomplish when you “put on the blinders” and focus on just one thing at a time. This will also help you protect your mental energy, so you don’t feel overwhelmed by so many tasks or obligations circling you all at once.

4. Practice weekly planning sessions

Adding school to an already full life introduces new layers of deadlines, discussion posts, and group projects. Taking just 30 minutes each week to review your syllabi, update your calendar, adjust your to-do list, and plan meals can save hours later by preventing last-minute scrambles.

Productivity expert Brian Tracy, author of How to Master Your Time, has suggested that every minute you spend planning can save you more than 10x that in execution, and many adult learners find this to be true in practice. Use this weekly check-in to look ahead at what your family has going on as well — sports, appointments, holidays — so you can plan around those commitments rather than compete with them for time.

5. Make smart to‑do lists

Seeing thirty tasks on a single day’s list is an easy way to feel defeated before you even start. Dr. Marnie Elam, Professor of Psychology at University of Massachusetts Global, recommends dividing tasks more evenly across the week and matching them to realistic time blocks.

Because we get stressed when we don't have the resources to meet our demands, spreading those demands out will make you more likely to meet them,

she advises.

Begin by writing down everything you need to accomplish, then estimate (generously) how long each task will take. Use your calendar to block time for the most important items and trim your list to what you can reasonably complete that day, using digital tools like task managers or homework planner apps to track deadlines and reminders across devices.

As you begin to see just how long each task takes to complete, adjust your calendar to align with your time needs.

6. Leverage your natural energy peaks and keep a pulse on wellness

Most people notice certain times of day when they feel more focused and others when they are mentally drained. As you design your schedule, aim to match your highest-priority tasks — such as studying for exams, writing papers, or completing complex work projects — with the times when you naturally feel most alert.

If your employer is supportive of your educational goals, you might explore flextime options that allow you to shift your hours earlier or later to better align with your coursework and family obligations. Even small changes in start or end times can create pockets of uninterrupted study time when your brain is at its best.

When you are juggling work, school, and family, your own well-being can easily slip to the bottom of the list. However, your brain and body work at their natural best when you prioritize wellness. This means getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, exercising, and tuning into mental, physical, and emotional cues so you don’t get burned out. Returning to school as an adult learner is no small feat, so don’t forget to take care of yourself first.

7. Make strategic use of PTO, breaks, and small pockets of time

If you receive paid time off (PTO), consider reserving some of it for your academic life instead of only using it for vacations or sick days. For working professionals, a single day off before a major exam, project deadline, or intense week of classes can provide focused time to prepare without competing with work demands.

You can also use slower periods, such as company holidays or seasonal lulls, to plan the upcoming term, look ahead in your courses, or complete long readings so you are not starting behind. Even your lunch break can become a mini-study session, with some students using most days for course work while saving one midday break each week to connect with coworkers or simply relax.

Another helpful tip is to leverage e-books when possible. When buying books, always check if an e-book is available — it can not only save you money, but also allow you to study on the go whenever you have a moment between tasks. A little reading here and there can save you a lot of time that you can spend with your family later.

8. Combine study time with family time

Many adult learners successfully blend study and family time, so they do not feel like they are constantly choosing one over the other. For example, you might sit down to do your coursework while your children work on their homework at the same table, checking in with each other and celebrating when assignments are completed.​

You can also transform everyday family activities into chances to study together. For example, you might quiz each other with flashcards at the park, listen to an audiobook or recorded lecture while taking a walk, or review vocabulary or course topics during a board game night. Integrating your coursework into shared routines like these helps your children see your education as a family project rather than something that always pulls you away from them.

9. Consider flexible ways to learn

If you are a self-starter who works well independently, online classes can offer extra flexibility. Some programs are offered fully online in an instructor-led format while others can be self-paced. Both are designed specifically for working adults, with coursework, deadlines, and policies tailored to those juggling multiple responsibilities. Which one is right for you depends on your personal learning preferences and other obligations.

Choosing a flexible, online learning environment can reduce commuting time and allow you to fit schoolwork into early mornings, late evenings, or pockets of time that would otherwise be difficult to utilize. When exploring programs, ask current students or advisors about typical weekly time commitments and how others with full-time jobs and families structure their schedules. When a student enters a program built for adult learners, they realize the benefits of not having to sacrifice life at home to reach their educational goals.

Your Education, Your Way

Work-life balance for students can be challenging, but with realistic planning, a supportive home team, and a few intentional routines, it is possible to move toward your goals without losing sight of what matters most. Many adult learners have walked this path before you, and their experiences show that small, consistent time management choices can add up to long-term success for you and your family.

Ready to invest in your future? Learn more about tuition and ways to fund your education in our blog, “Top Financial Aid Tips & Tricks [Infographic]”. Want to take the next step towards gaining an education at an online college for working adults? Reach out to an enrollment coach at (800) 746-0082 today!

¹ https://www.umassglobal.edu/about/consumer-information/sources