UET Online Magazine

The key word is “balance” when focusing on wellness as a non-traditional student going back to school while also working a full-time job and caring for a family, home, and friends. Adding one more commitment – schoolwork – to an already-full schedule is not easy.

“When I was in graduate school I was working full time. Balancing school, work, and homelife can be a challenge,” said OCSEA member Kayla Gardner, an activity therapy specialist 2 at the Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare. “Take time to reflect on things, to realize that it’s OK to not be OK.”

Perhaps the most reassuring fact is that if you are an adult learner, you are not alone. Roughly 40% of undergraduate students are “non-traditional,” and either older than 22 years old or working and taking classes at the same time. According to the June 25, 2025 Forbes.com article “Nontraditional Students are the New College Majority, Report Finds,” by Michael T. Nietzel, these students are “’time poor,’ requiring them to multi-task in several areas of their lives, including taking courses while they are working and forcing them to juggle family responsibilities, career demands, and financial challenges while studying.”

That means these students are under a lot of stress that needs to be managed. Planning and being deliberate can help. Perhaps the most important thing is to take care of yourself.

“One of the things I do to manage time is having mini-breaks throughout the day,” Gardner said. “Building that into your day helps so you don’t get so stressed out.”

That mini-break can double as a time for exercise or a hobby. OCSEA member Kay Willis, a customer service assistant 2 in the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Department of Public Safety, agrees that transition time is useful.

“Sometimes it doesn’t feel like there is enough time in the day,” Willis said. “However, once I am off work, I walk the dog, eat dinner, and give myself at least two hours to work on homework.”

Gardner sometimes listens to audio books during her commute. She also enjoys photography, mandala drawings, and art journaling.

“As a therapist, I always try to add something creative into my day,” Gardner said. “So, find what works for you: exercise, creative, calling a friend, talking to family.”

Mental Health America’s resource “Balancing Work and School” lists several ways to relax, including going for a walk, coloring, and even simply taking a shower, in addition to what Gardner and Willis mentioned.

These activities encourage relaxation while reducing the intensity of stress.

“It just helps me unwind and refocus on something especially if I’m going back and forth on something in my head,” Gardner said. “It helps me relax and breathe.”

Many studies have shown how leisure skills – activities that people voluntarily participate in in their free time – directly impact both physical and mental health in positive ways, including lower blood pressure and lower levels of depression. It’s important to have hobbies and interests to manage stress.

“In the work that we do, we can help people with leisure skills,” Gardner added. “That’s what I love about the job.”

Another thing she loves about the job is OCSEA and the union benefits. The Union Education Trust’s benefits go a long way to relieving worries about paying for continuing your education. Removing financial concerns is the goal of UET, making lifelong learning available to all OCSEA state bargaining unit employees. In addition to the resources at UET, your school or training program will also offer many services, likely including career counseling, tutoring, financial aid, a food pantry, technology resources, and mental health services.

“When the stress of school deadlines, my workload, and managing responsibilities at home increased, I reached out for support,” Willis said. “I connected with classmates, professors, friends, and my academic counselor during challenging times.”

That means that Willis had found the right educational institution for her needs. Consider what resources a school or training facility has, as well as how the courses are offered. Are there night or weekend classes? Online classes – either synchronous (meeting with the teacher online) or asynchronous (self-paced with no set class time)?

Do you have a personal network of family, friends or neighbors who can support you if you need assistance? Having a community around you is invaluable.

“Ask for help when you need it, especially with parenting,” Gardner said. 

If you aren’t sure about how continuing your education will fit into your schedule, consider starting small with a professional development course or a single class. Gardner has used her UET benefit for her CEUs (Continuing Education Units) that she needs for her licensure. Be kind to yourself: You do not need to be perfect to learn.

“When I was in school, I did it at a slower pace: That’s OK!” Gardner said. “Take a manageable course load. Not every assignment is going to be perfect – just try your best.”

Willis recommends finding a schedule that works to maintain balance and structure.

“I utilize a planner and write all of my homework in it,” Willis said. “I make sure my homework is completed before doing anything else.”

Even with all of the planning, there are times that adult learners need to apply other management skills, Willis said.

“Delegate and set priorities,” she said. “Sometimes schedules change and flexibility is necessary.”

“Make sure you prioritize what matters most and give yourself small rewards,” Willis said. “For example, you may want to go shopping, but you have a paper to write. Prioritize the paper first. Tell yourself that once the paper is completed, you can go shopping as a reward.”

The greatest reward is making “lifelong learner” an integral part of who you are.

An additional resource: https://healthnetwork.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-stress-as-a-nontraditional-college-student/