One might ask what my credentials are to be speaking about this topic. It is true that I currently hold no degree, not even a bachelors, in any field. I am not one of the leading scientists in sociology, psychology, or any other “ology” that would seem beneficial to giving others advice. However, I hold what maybe the most important credential necessary for writing on such a difficult topic. I am going through life.
Currently I hold a full time job working close to fifty hours a week (I’d be more than happy to provide my clock-out slips if you feel the need to do the math). At school, I am taking six classes, totaling sixteen credit hours. That’s just sixteen hours a week I spend in class. According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, it is highly advised that students should “devote two hours of study time for every hour of class time,” which would put me at forty-eight hours a week spent on school. Now let’s add the hours up. A full week, seven days, holds 168 hours. If I work without over time, no more than forty hours a week, and do the school work that is advised, I would be spending 88 hours a week working in one sense or another. Doesn’t seem too difficult, right?
Let’s then add the amount of time I spend in my car, driving too and from work. I live roughly an hour away from where I work and attend school (they are both close to each other though). So I spend at least two and a half hours a day, 17.5 hours a week, in a car. That brings our total up to 105.5 hours. Let’s then give roughly one hour per meal per day to eating. Three hours a day if you do what scientists suggest, 21 hours a week. 126.5 hours. A proper night’s sleep would contribute eight hours a day, 56 hours a week. Our total is now at 182.5. I also have a son, just over a year and a half old, so I have to attend to him every second I have him (five days a week normally).
As you can see. My schedule is incredibly busy, yet I am finding time to write a blog in order to help people like me, people who are swamped to their shoulders with responsibility, and need just a little help. I may not have a fancy degree, or have done extensive research on the human limit, but I live my own limit every day. Pushing myself so that I may succeed, and in turn provide a comfortable life for my family.
Life does not come with a text book. It is a learning process in which one gains knowledge through their experiences. A proverb, written by an unknown author, states that “a smart man learns from his mistakes, while a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” The hopes of this blog is to bring together a community of followers who want to help others living the “same old grind” struggle. Through this, success may be accomplished by not just one person, but many.
I expect this blog can be very valuable for me, and many others. The amount of time that you have tied up is significantly more than myself. However, every college student can benefit greatly in learning time management strategies. I have also dealt with anxiety issues all of my life, and so it would be great to learn more tricks to better handle anxiety.
ReplyDeleteAdam,
DeleteI am glad that you look forward to my blog. I understand fully how difficult it is to handle a busy schedule, and that everyone has their own limits. I also encourage input from outside sources such as yourself. Like I stated, my only credentials are my own experience going through difficult situations. I cannot say that I have had any anxiety issues, and I'd be more than happy to speak with you about your own experiences with it, and how you managed dealing with it. I will do my best to address this topic in my next post. If you have any references, that would be great. As previously stated, the purpose of this blog is for the community to help itself. Thank you for the post.
First, I am in awe of your perseverance. It seems the average person would have postponed an education to tend to all of your other very critical, competing responsibilities. While I don't have near as many time commitments that you do, I am trying to better manage my responsibilities as I approach graduation and before I am thrust into the "real" world. I look forward to reading your blog and learning about what enables you to do all that you do!
ReplyDeleteHanna,
DeleteThank you for the compliment, but honestly I am just doing what simply must be done. I have no choice on whether or not to take care of my son, nor would I have it any other way. If you must give credit to anyone, give it to him, because he is the driving force behind my life. I work so that I can provide for him, and I attend school so that I may offer him a semi-comfortable life growing up.
I too am working on my final year here, hopefully, and I know full-well the nerves you are having about having the real world thrust upon you. The best thing you can do is stay focused. In my experience, worry is your worst enemy. It makes the mind hazy, and creates a wall that makes you unable to think about things properly. If you have trouble doing this, let me know. I will try and find some articles on how to handle this sort of stress and write a post on it as soon as I can.
Best,
Zakariah Zahrn
I will have say it's nice to know I'm not the only one who works so hard and so much to provide for their family and still have time do something for yourself that will benefit your family in the long run. It is rare to hear a father talk about this which isn't fair for the ones that are the provided. I look forward to reading your blog, I am always looking for tips and advice. I will say from experience being crazy busy and learning how to live on little sleep with smaller children does pay off when they're older and they have your full attention when their personalities start to come out more.
ReplyDelete