Balancing kids with amount of study time?

[BunsenBeaker]

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Hey folks-

Old nontrad checking in. I still don’t know where I’m going to school next year (waiting on 1 more WL), but I am trying to plan what my schedule will be like next year. My SO has a little one living with us half the time, so I need to plan and prepare to ensure I get all the studying done I need to, and still balance family life.

I know everyone is different, but for med students and those who’ve graduated who also have/had little ones in the picture during school, what did you do to balance things? Did you structure your time so you mainly studied at school? Unfortunately we do not currently have an extra room that I can use as a “library,” so on weeks where we have the little one, I’m guessing I’ll clock more hours at school or at Starbucks. Alternatively, I can just go to bed super early and get up at like 3 or 4 to study while the house is all quiet. Our little one doesn’t go to sleep until 10-1030 most nights despite our best efforts. Thoughts?

TIA!

 

[907914]

Hey folks-

Old nontrad checking in. I still don’t know where I’m going to school next year (waiting on 1 more WL), but I am trying to plan what my schedule will be like next year. My SO has a little one living with us half the time, so I need to plan and prepare to ensure I get all the studying done I need to, and still balance family life.

I know everyone is different, but for med students and those who’ve graduated who also have/had little ones in the picture during school, what did you do to balance things? Did you structure your time so you mainly studied at school? Unfortunately we do not currently have an extra room that I can use as a “library,” so on weeks where we have the little one, I’m guessing I’ll clock more hours at school or at Starbucks. Alternatively, I can just go to bed super early and get up at like 3 or 4 to study while the house is all quiet. Our little one doesn’t go to sleep until 10-1030 most nights despite our best efforts. Thoughts?

TIA!

One of my friends is a father of 5(!) ranging in age from 7 months to 8 years old. He is an M2 now and does 8 - 530 at school/library every day (they live 10 minute walk away). His wife gets off work at 4 so she has dinner ready when he gets home. All the kids are in bed by 830, then until 11 is time with his wife. Then weekends he doesn’t touch anything school related except for the second half of every Sunday before a big test (about once or twice a month). He isn’t a gunner and is not the top of his class, but he certainly isn’t bottom of his class and he does well on NBME exams (thinks he will be in the 240 range for Step 1).

So based on that, I would say it is definitely possible and can work really well. You and the SO just have to be on a set schedule. ‘Free time’ can sill be free even if it is planned. Just get spontaneity out of your mind.

 

[BunsenBeaker]

One of my friends is a father of 5(!) ranging in age from 7 months to 8 years old. He is an M2 now and does 8 - 530 at school/library every day (they live 10 minute walk away). His wife gets off work at 4 so she has dinner ready when he gets home. All the kids are in bed by 830, then until 11 is time with his wife. Then weekends he doesn’t touch anything school related except for the second half of every Sunday before a big test (about once or twice a month). He isn’t a gunner and is not the top of his class, but he certainly isn’t bottom of his class and he does well on NBME exams (thinks he will be in the 240 range for Step 1).

So based on that, I would say it is definitely possible and can work really well. You and the SO just have to be on a set schedule. ‘Free time’ can sill be free even if it is planned. Just get spontaneity out of your mind.

Oh man we would love to have our little one go to bed at 830. He’s just not programmed that way.

I’m a big planner but I think I will have to plan a little more strategically once I go from doing a 9-5 type job to the study grind.

It’s good to know it’s doable with 5 kids... definitely possible with just the 1 we have. I just have a little anxiety about finding my sea legs with it all.

Thanks for your post! I really appreciate it.