Written by Emma Hayes
By the time three o’clock Friday rolls around, after working in the bush all week (rain, hail or 38-degree heat), I am exhausted and just about ready to go into hibernation. But alas! As a part-time online student and a full-time bush regenerator, my ‘weekends’ look a little different to how they used to. I try my best to stay on top of content, assessments and readings during the working week, but sometimes the best I can manage between juggling all of life’s commitments, is just attending live lectures in the evenings and doing some light reading before bed.
I had big plans when I started at Charles Sturt that I’d dedicate at least three nights a week to productive, uninterrupted study. I ended up spending more time planning out the week than getting anything done. But that’s okay! I now utilise the weekends to maximise productivity and for the last six months, it seems like it’s working for me.
So, here’s a ‘Day (Weekend) in the Life’ of Emma.
Saturday morning, I usually either have rowing training or I make sure to get to the gym for the early session. Moving my body and working up a sweat before studying always helps me avoid feeling jittery or restless after a long period of sitting.
After that, I take the dog for a walk out into the bushland behind my house. Not to go all holier-than-thou on you – but being away from screens and amongst nature really sets me up for a good day. When I get home, I make sure to eat a decent breakfast and set myself a time limit for cleaning the house and my study area (it’s usually chaotic with washing piles and dog hair everywhere during the week). Clean space = clear mind kind of thing.
When I sit down to get into study, I make a mental note of a few things.
- Have a realistic plan of what study is a priority and how much I am aiming to get done with the hours I have.
- Set a time to have a lunch break and stick to it! A rumbling belly makes me constantly get up and down for snacks.
- If I need to text anyone or do any urgent life admin on my phone, I get it done before I start and put my phone in another room.
- Have a bottle of water handy.
*Strange tip: If you put a load of washing on when you start studying, when the cycle ends, it forces you to take a break after an hour or so, hang up the washing and have a sort of brain reset.
By about 5 pm, my kelpie is whining at me to go out again, so we hit the dog beach for a swim and some solid stick chasing. Saturday night usually consists of catching up with mates over dinner and drinks or a cosy night in at home.
Sunday is usually rinse and repeat! However I like to prepare meals for the week, so I do my grocery shop in the morning to make sure I have everything I need at home to cook when I finish studying in the afternoon.
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
