I’ve been doing a lot of life planning lately. It’s what I do. I’m obsessive like that.
I’ve reach the conclusion that I want to get my MBA (Masters in Business Administration), and I would like to do so before I have babies. Thus, the new life plan was formed.
- Present-March 2012: 13-week study plan for GMAT (learn math again)
- March 2012: Sit for GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test: Basically, the entrance exam for business schools)
- May 2012: Retake GMAT if needed (The GMAT is adding an entirely new section of the exam in June, and I don’t want to have to deal with that.)
- After GMAT-Dec 2012: Plan rest of wedding (I’m hoping between now and March will be a lull in the wedding planning stuff since I have the big stuff out of the way.)
- December 2012: Get married!!!
- 2013: Enroll in a 2-3 year part-time MBA program
That makes it seem so neat and easy, right?
I have just completed Week 1 of my 13-week GMAT study plan where I relearned basic math skills. No joke. Being in communications, I haven’t had to do algebra or geometry in quite awhile, so my skills were a little rusty. I went through Manhattan GMAT’s Foundations of GMAT Math, which was a great basic overview of math concepts. There were a lot of typos in the book, which was a little frustrating, but I do feel like I have a much better math foundation than I did a week ago. Today I take my first practice exam to see where I fall.
It’s really difficult to block out four hours of a day for a practice exam, but I know I need to do it.
My study plan consists of studying about two-three hours per weekday after work and four-six hours per weekend. Although, since, once again, I’m obsessive, I’ve been studying about four hours during the workweek. I really have more anxiety over taking the exam than actually going back to school. Is that weird?
This all leads me to the introduction of my new best friend: coffee!
Kevin bought me some new mugs from Crate and Barrel and I love them. They make sitting down to a cup of coffee even more fun. I love all the colors and the shape of a mug. For some reason, I’m really picky about my mug shape. I like a round mug that I can cup in my hands with a decent size handle.
So there you have it: I’m just adding another ball to juggle. I’m lucky that Kevin has been so supportive. He finished his MBA program one year ago, so he knows how difficult it can be to manage everything.
Besides taking my practice exam today, I’m taking Parko to the vet.
Do you see how his right eye is droopy and weird-looking? It’s really red, and we think he might have pink eye. It seems to be irritating him a little, but at least it doesn’t seem to be causing him pain. Hopefully the vet can fix him up.
How do you balance it all? On my plate are work, slimming down for the wedding, wedding planning and studying. Sometimes I think I literally need more hours in the day!
Have you taken the GMAT or gotten your MBA? Any tips? Am I crazy?
I still don’t know how to balance it all! School is insane this term (2nd last of college accounting) and my grades have very much suffered, though everyone says it’s normal it still freaks me out!
Love your coffee stash, and also the fact that you’re like me and are picky about mugs! Me too!
It’s so hard for me to balance everything, especially now that I have finals. But I just try to take things one at a time. Good luck on your studying!
Ouch, that’s a lot to take on your plate at once! You’ll make it through, though. You’ve come this far after all! That’s the really hard part.
Good luck studying for the MBA! Making timelines like that really help me calm my nerves. It helps to feel like you’re prepared! Take everything one day at a time, and I’m sure you’re going to rock the GMAT AND wedding planning!
Geez! It’s hard to balance it all, I work full time, I got to art school full time, I’m a wife and I am a full time mom to a newborn. I’m shocked I haven’t gone crazy. I guess it you just have to take it a day at a time…
That’s a lot to balance! Good luck studying for the GMAT! I’ve done full-time work, a part-time job and completed a Masters program with a 4.0 all at the same time. It’s challenging! My trick was to make to do lists for everyday of the week on Sunday and just keep crossing things off! It’s extremely gratifying to cross things off lists when you have a lot on your plate!
Aww, kisses to Parko!
I manage it all by doing exactly what you did…laying out a long-term plan. Supplemented with a daily planner, it works pretty well.
Those mugs are great! Adding them to my mental list of things to register for! Good luck with your new life plan- that’s awesome- you can do it girl!
Cute mugs! A MRS and an MBA at the same time would take some serious planning.
Good luck studying! I love the mugs!
I think you can do it all. It definitely gets stressful at times but you will be able to handle it.
I hear you. I need at least 8 extra hours in the day. Right now I’m surrounded by at least 6 things I need to get done soon for the holidays (cards, making something for my mom, wrapping a gift, etc) and instead I’m reading your blog because that sounded more fun. It’s hard to balance it all! As I’m going to sleep, instead of counting sheep, I list out all the things I need to do. So hard to relax!
Oh, and so funny you need a specific coffee cup shape. My hubs needs a specific cereal bowl shape.
Good luck at the vet! I hate taking my animals there. I get all emotional. Hee
Balancing life is the hardest thing! Every day is a challenge!!