What is a Typical Week?
Now that Spring Break is starting, I have a few (very few) minutes to reflect on the admittedly insane lifestyle I’ve adopted over the last six or so months.
I’m working full time, going to law school at night, and of course there is the family. If anyone is considering going back to school and will find themselves in a similar situation, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that it is doable. The bad news is that it isn’t easy and you’ll have to sacrifice some, if not all, of the things you do for fun.
Monday through Thursday I’m out of the house by 7:30am or so and heading to the train. I’ll get into the office by 8:30-9am. Depending on my workload, I’ll put in anywhere from 2 to 8 hours of work. I probably average around 4-5 a day, but there’s a lot of variability behind that mean.
Usually between 3pm and 6pm I head over to school for anywhere from 1 to 4 hours of class. I’ll typically pick up dinner to go at the local Starbucks or at the school’s cafe.
Then I’m on the train home to get back to my house anywhere from 9pm to 11pm. I try to use my train time for reading. In law school there is always more reading to do.
On Fridays I work a “normal” day, sometimes from home.
Saturdays and Sundays are for family, the gym, working around the house, and two very important tasks: outlining and reading for the following week’s classes. Outlining nails down the concepts from the previous week’s lectures and reading, while reading allows me to catch up or get ahead.
There is not a ton of slack in my schedule. All it takes is a couple of unexpected events and I’m falling behind. Sick kids, a sick wife, parent-teacher conferences, care meetings for my mom, a meeting with my accountant, and so on will do it.
But the school / work combo is doable. And hopefully will be worth it.