In distance learning, one does not necessarily need to attend classes, take notes during lectures or participate actively and physically in discussions. However, the learner still needs to carryout research, complete and submit assignments on time. Besides attending to such academic obligations, one may also be faced with the duty of attending to personal and/or family demands. Striking a balance between studies, family and personal obligations can really be a tricky undertaking. That is why it is essential that one makes crucial decisions pertaining to finding a balance between these obligations. These decisions involve ranking one’s priorities and knowing what should always come first and what is secondary.
As a distance learner from Kenyatta University, I am very much at the center of the aforementioned decisions. This is because not only am I enrolled to pursue my studies remotely, but I am equally faced with the duty of attending to my family’s needs, my daytime job and recreation. It is never easy to find balance between all these commitments and that is why proper planning for my time is very important. For instance, besides studying and working on my course exercises, I have to make sure that my family is happy and well attended to. I also need to meet the tight schedules and deadlines of my hard-to-please boss. Moreover, just as the old adage goes, “all work and no play made Jack a dull boy,” I have to find time for leisure so as to eliminate boredom and stress. In order to overcome such challenges, adhering to a set of principles is vital.
Firstly, I have had to come up with a set of guidelines and schedules to meet the demand of each party. Failure to have a schedule for everything I do can be a recipe for stress and a pileup of workload. I therefore have a timetable indicating what is to be accomplished and at what time I need to be working on it. For instance, in order to make members of my immediate family aware that I am busy with class work and need not to be disturbed, I usually post a notice on the door of my study room. I have to make sure the writings “please do not disturb” are bold and easily legible to every member of my family especially the children. This way, I am able to eliminate any element of disturbance from my children particularly when I am engaged in a serious online chat with my professor. They are in a position to know when daddy is busy and should not be disturbed. That means even time for bedtime stories or a walk in the park is just not right. However, with the use of my schedule, I can always set some time to carter for the needs of those I hold at heart. The timetable allows me to budget adequately for my study time and when I have to be with my lovely family during off-hours.
In addition, I also budget well for my recreation time. This comes in handy when I need a balanced life free of anxiety, stress and irritability. Sometimes, a busy day at work coupled with a stack of materials to revise can be a source of depression and fatigue which if not attended to, can interfere with the normal functioning of the body systems. To achieve this, I lay down a set of boundaries which I stick to religiously. It is never an easy thing to find time for play especially when your moods are down and more lies ahead waiting to be accomplished. I therefore have a piece of paper or book where I list the things that need to be done in a day and the order in which they will be done. In writing down a list of what I will read, I also make sure I include one or two things that I enjoy doing and that will boost my spirits. Extracurricular activities like a jog around the neighborhood or a friendly game of football with colleagues can be helpful in this instance. This requires serious discipline to ensure that I do not overindulge in play at the expense of my studies. Consequently, I get to enjoy a life full of happiness and every aspect of my life moves in the right direction.
Another way of balancing between my learning and family is through involving them and making them part of what I study. This is a great way of making each member of my family aware that I am destined for great things and they can sail along. After every session of concentrated study, I get to tell them of what I have learnt or come across especially if it is of great interest. Sharing what I have learnt with my family acts as a healthy way of reminding myself of what I have studied. I therefore get to fuse together my studies and my family demands in a pleasurable manner. For example, when I come across an eye-catching topic in the internet during my research, I can bring it up during dinner time and let everyone contribute his/her opinion concerning the topic.
In a nutshell, balancing distance learning with family demands, work and recreation requires a strict schedule that one has to adhere to with dedication. It calls for the preparation of timetable and a list of priorities which should guide one in attending to each duty.
Article By Raymond Uluma
raymochi@yahoo.com
+254725 224 317
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