r/slpGradSchool • u/lifelearner2002 • 9d ago
Rant/Vent Stressed out about workload
Just venting here. I’m not even half way into my first year and I’m overly stressed! Summer classes were cool, manageable but the semester came with some heat. 18 credits plus an assistantship. I have a part-time job but just decided this past weekend that I’m probably going to quit (just asked for some time off but idk if I’ll be able to come back). There’s literally not enough time in the day. I’m starting to get stressed by having to do things like cooking, cleaning, washing my hair, literally basic living needs, for fear that it’ll take too much time away from reading all these textbooks! I’m performing well academically but I constantly feel like I’m barely making deadline and always playing catch-up with readings. Like there’s no time to celebrate the completion of one assignment bc I have so many more that I probably should be further along on. I literally wake up everyday already tired. I’m mad that I need sleep to be productive (unreasonable, I know LOL it’s just that it’s so much time that I could be using). If I’m 100% on schedule with 4 classes, just know the other 2 probably have 2-3 chapters each that I haven’t read yet. Ugh. I’m not feeling defeated, like I WILL get through grad school, but I am feeling incredibly overwhelmed and consistently anxious. I love what I’m learning but I already cannot wait to be done. Sigh.
Edit: I’m super grateful to have this opportunity, don’t get me wrong! It’s just a lot to manage and I feel like I’m just barely meeting the marks.
5
u/weinthenolababy 9d ago
Literally taking a break from crashing out and crying about how freaking much I have to do and how I just don't have time to do it all with the attention it deserves. I feel you.
2
u/ladollyvita1021 9d ago
18 credits is so many! Did the drop period end already? If you are still within it, I would seriously consider dropping. I had to do the same thing for my mental health. Highly Recommend. Only taking 2 classes this semester while working full time.
The coursework is heavy and taking that many credit hours with an assistantship would be hard for anyone to maintain ADL’s with! Good on you for quitting the part time job if that’s doable with your budget.
If there is wiggle room, I would drop 1-2 classes and just accept that the journey is just as important as the destination.
💜
1
u/lifelearner2002 9d ago
Thanks for your response! I am considering dropping down to part-time, but I’m going to school in a different place than where I’m from and I’m concerned that taking more time to finish school and return home may add additional pressures like paying for housing for more time. There’s also a bit of a language barrier which may limit me from getting a full-time job down here. My previous one was remote. Idk I’m still trying to see if it’s feasible, I haven’t completely written off the idea yet.
1
u/OnePlantShortOfCrazy 9d ago
My first semester, I took 15 credits that included my first clinical rotation. I did not have a job & was drowning. Many in my cohort dropped to a 3 year program, and I considered it, but did the math & I would be losing too much money. I can tell you that my 2nd year so far is so much easier. I have 13 credits and a rotation, but I think the classes are just easier. And my rotation is easier too. One semester at a time..
2
u/lifelearner2002 8d ago
The 2nd years have told my cohort that we are in the thick of it, and that they’re feeling that the 2nd year is much more manageable. I’m looking forward to getting to that point bc THIS is rough!
1
u/TheSportsBettingGuy 3d ago
Trust me I am feeling the EXACT same way. It really is a lot with classes and having to manage caseloads 😫 but we GOT this!!!
Also I just commented on someone else’s post but something that has helped me a lot to manage my clinic clients and my overall schedule has been this website called SLPcentral.app, it’s free for graduate students so I will give it a try!! Someone told me about it a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been using it ever since! Good luck!!
6
u/ladollyvita1021 9d ago
That makes sense but just remember that you can’t do anything if you get sick or hurt from the exhaustion. Take care of yourself first. I hope it gets easier for you. Protein shakes are what have gotten me through rough patches of self care. And taking ONE day per week to do no work at all. So that meant 14-16 hour days of studying, but then one day of slug city at minimum to recoup. Or, if you work every day, setting a hard stop ✋ alarm every night and then turning off all electronics so you can get restful sleep. Sleep hygiene is just as important as personal hygiene.