Juggling college and a healthy lifestyle- HELP!

I'm in a similar situation (chemical engineering, focusing on graduating and losing weight), but I also have kids. I don't envy your commute! I used to commute an hour each way. So ridiculously mind-numbing!

A few things I find helpful: 1) Make sure that at least some of the people you spend a lot of time with are studious, healthy, and active. If they're in the same year/program as you, so much the better. 2) Be as efficient as possible. Plan your meals, plan your workouts, plan your whole day. Pre-prep as much of your food on the weekend as possible. Make lists. Keep a planner. If you can do two things at once, you should. I have a friend who reads his textbooks on the elliptical. 3) Make good use of down time. Ie, use your commute to relax a little (we all need it). Get some books on tape, or blast some music. 4) Use all your resources. Friends, instructors, study groups, supplementary material, even youtube videos on the topics you're studying. It all helps.

Good luck!

You can do this! I balanced grad school, kids, and teaching chemistry, all while commuting over an hour to school. It takes some organization, but it can be done. Tajmel's advice is great! To it, I would add:

1) Use things like iTune U to get recordings of lectures on the topics in class. Sometimes it's good to hear the same topics covered by a different professor.
2) Work on it everyday, even if it's only for 30 minutes. Work problems, look at your notes, and read the book. I know this sounds stupid, but it is much easier to spend 30 minutes a day than to cram all of the studying into a day or two near the test.
3) The second that you don't understand something, go see the professor/TA. Don't come in and just say "I don't understand" ... ask specific questions, show them the problems you tried to work, bring your notes and point out where you got lost. Even though you think you are bothering them, you're not. We wouldn't teach if we didn't want to help students. Stop by and chat.
4) Use google to find worksheets and problem sets that you can work on. Search on specific topics and you will find a whole bunch of resources. Often the worksheets will have the problems worked out for you in the answers so you can see the logic.
5) These websites have a lot of good studying ideas: http://cas.lsu.edu/
http://www.uic.edu/depts/ace/strategies.shtml
Try concept mapping. it is very helpful for complex, interconnected topics.
6) Have fun and enjoy your chosen major. I loved being a chem major in undergrad. Although your class is going to be hard (PChem?), it will be interesting. Band with your fellow classmates. Bond over the class. Join the Chem Club, if your school has one. Study together and have fun together. Meet some of the upperclassmen and see if they can give you some tips and study materials.

As for the lifestyle:
1) I leave a case of water in my car so I can always run back and get some.
2) Relax and walk as much as possible. Even if you don't think you have time for exercise, fit in a walk on campus. It is a great way to combat stress and stay fit. Studying? Write out some index cards and take them with you. You can quiz yourself and walk at the same time.
3) Use all the resources on campus. If the school has a pool, a gym, or a track, use them. If they offer a spin class or aerobics, take them. Our college has Yoga - free! This will help you manage stress and keep to your lifestyle.
4) Pack snacks. Baggies of almonds, pretzels, or yummy fruit. A bag of microwave popcorn in the students' lounge can make you a lot of friends. Those vending machines are so tempting ... stay strong.
5) Be mindful of when you eat and why you eat. Stress can do some crazy things. Try not to snack while you're studying. So tempting, but it is a bad habit (one that I am still trying to break).

Good luck!

Hey - busy PhD student here so I'll throw in my two cent's worth!

Use one day to make your lunches etc - I typically set Sunday afternoon aside to do 'my' things... I make up lunches and freeze them (either sandwiches - you can take them out in the morning and they'll defrost by lunch; or hot meals if you've got a microwave/student room you can heat food in).

Use your commute to unwind as said - I commuted 1.5hrs per day when I was doing my MSc... not ideal but I used it as time to get some mental clarity and digest the work I'd been doing that day.

Read your notes/textbooks in short sharp blocks. It's pointless spending hour after hour puzzling over something - study when you're mentally alert and you'll find it so much easier than feeling like you *have* to study 24/7. Sometimes less really is more.

Use exercise as a break/treat! Believe me, I rely on the gym for my own sanity. I go first thing in the morning, as I know I'm going to be sitting using my brain and not my body for the next 8-10 hours. That hour in the morning is 'my' time - and when I've physically exerted myself I feel that mentally I can cope with anything the day chooses to throw at me.

Hope this helps

Heather

I'm terrible at packing my own lunches for uni, I try to make myself a few sandwiches when I make my son's school lunch and I like to throw in a healthy snack (like an apple or two) that normally tides me over for the day. But failing that I've scoped out all the cafes and restaurants on campus and I know where to buy yummy healthy salads (vege or fruit) or bircher museli.

Oh one thing I have been doing is parking miles away from campus so I HAVE to walk 15-30mins there and 15-30mins back. It's not so great if the weather's bad but it really does make a difference. I keep telling myself 'll join the rec centre too, but it hasn't happened yet - 5 years of being married to a Personal Trainer (no longer married) and I'm a little over being a gym bunny *sigh* I'll stick to my dancing.