Don’t think you have time for an MBA? Learn time management tips from these MBA students

Thinking about an MBA but wondering how you’ll balance both your personal and professional life with the time it demands? Ready to take your next career leap, but worried you won’t have the hours to make it work? 

“Teach us to number our days” (Psalms 90:12)—a timely reminder that, as working professionals juggling work, family, projects, life and graduate school, every minute counts. 

Prospective MBA students have many questions like these: 

• How can I balance my personal life and a career with an MBA program? 

• What about balancing family life with an MBA? 

• Are there MBA programs with flexible class schedules? 

• Is it possible to have a learn/life balance while taking MBA classes? 

• Does anyone else struggle with having enough time or am I the only one? 

Baylor’s dedicated MBA staff help students manage their time effectively by providing personalized guidance, career planning, and ongoing support, ensuring each student can balance rigorous academics with professional growth and meaningful community engagement. 

The struggle is real 

The struggle to fit everything into a fixed number of weekly hours is not limited to a few students. “Time management challenges are common among Executive MBA students since most of us are juggling demanding coursework alongside full-time careers and family responsibilities,” said Marie Louise Muñiz, a current MBA in Dallas student. “What makes it easier is the support system. My cohort looks out for one another, shares reminders and keeps everyone accountable.”   

“Ha! How much time do you have?” asked Darnell St. Bernard, a current Online MBA student. But he sees an upside even in the struggle to balance time with other life commitments. “I believe that an MBA program should prepare you for the extraordinary changes and balances that companies face,” he said. “In the long run, success comes with a toll. We can pay it in an early withdrawal or a steady deduction over time.” 

“I appreciated the practical, direct insight Dr. Ann Mirabito brought to my Marketing class, which challenged me personally and pushed me to learn beyond my usual scope."     

Get organized early 

Not getting behind in the beginning should be a top priority to successfully integrating life and study. “I anticipated a fast-paced curriculum, but Week 1 in the first classes I took in the program quickly reinforced the importance of getting organized early,” said Brett Downing, a current Online MBA student. “Because my personal and work responsibilities can vary week to week, I’ve learned to always build in buffer time and, whenever possible, work ahead to stay on top of assignments.” 

Practical strategies can differ, but still work 

Students need not use the same strategies to be successful. Courtney Whitten, a current MBA in Dallas student, prefers to “pull things forward where possible. For example, my first submission may be B-level work, but when I find time to refine and resubmit, it’ll be A-level work before the cutoff date.” 

“I have found that prioritizing health, family, work, school, then social obligations, always in that order, has yielded fruit, and academic success, in my walk with the Lord,” said Whitten. She advises that each student must find his or her own balance. “An honest inventory of how one learns best is an essential starting point for identifying the particular weights that need to be moved along the balance.” 

St. Bernard uses the Pomodoro Method (working in 25-minute increments followed by a break), while Muñiz says, “I manage my time by being the leader of my schedule, not reacting to it. My work, school and family schedules are built weeks in advance. The Outlook calendar is not just an app for me. It’s the law I abide by.” 

Learning from thought leaders 

No MBA student needs to create a system from scratch. Enough has been written that the world is flush with books and talks by people who have learned to balance life and work. Muñiz and St. Bernard both credit Steven Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” with shaping their approaches to life.  

Downing learned to clear his emails early each day from Apple’s Tim Cook and to make solid first decisions, “to avoid revisiting them unnecessarily,” from Microsoft’s Bill Gates.   

Whitten sees Jesus as a time-management thought leader. “Specifically, we are instructed to, ‘Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is,’” she said, quoting Ephesians 5:15-17. 

Successful studies with kids in the house 

“Help! How can I balance parenting with MBA studies??” Muñiz, a mother of five, says, “Balancing study time, class time, work and life requires strategic discipline. I plan, block focused time for classes and coursework and front load major tasks so I stay ahead.” 

St. Bernard, father of a newborn, says, “When works stops, the next thing begins, whether a group project or a Zoom call with professors and classmates. But, being a father first and foremost is at the forefront.” 

“As a parent, I’ve had to make sacrifices—missing a game or recital—but we stay connected and supportive,” said Downing. “Starting the day early helps me build momentum.” One way Downing balances his studies with his family is by involving them. “One highlight was involving my kids in a ‘5S’ project for Dr. Josh Strakos’ class. Initially hesitant, they ended up feeling proud of the outcome and even applied the principles to other tasks at home.” 

Baylor has Executive and Online MBA programs with flexible schedules 

Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business School offers several options for earning an MBA, with flexibility being paramount in the MBA in Dallas for Executives and Professionals and Online MBA program.  

Classes at the Baylor MBA in Dallas meet one weekend a month, with classes on Friday afternoon and Saturday. While it is an in-person format, the MBA in Dallas provides remote options when conflicts arise. Full details about the MBA in Dallas are here. You can apply here. 

The 100% Online MBA, with five available concentrations, prepares students for careers as an operations director, CFO, marketing director, management consultant, product manager or entrepreneur. Read more about the Online MBA or apply here. 

You can do it! 

Don’t let fear of the unknown or concerns about work/life balance keep you from exploring an MBA as your next career move. As Downing, Whitten, St. Bernard and Muniz show, it is possible to make it happen without sacrificing your life in the process.   

Advance Your Career with a Baylor University MBA 

Whether you’re pursuing an Online, Executive, or Professional MBA, Baylor University offers a program designed to elevate your leadership, expand your network, and accelerate your success. 

If you’re ready to move your career forward, fill out this form to learn more about Baylor’s MBA programs.