Young professionals worried about achieving educational and professional can utilize these 9 strategies for balancing work and school.
Balancing work and school can seem impossible. And if you’re facing student loan repayments and growing living costs, a full course load can feel really overwhelming.
Limited time and endless responsibilities can quickly lead to stress and burnout if you don’t manage your time right.
Luckily, there are some strategies you can use to help get a hold of your busy schedule and succeed in both areas. Let’s explore these 9 strategies for balancing work and school and how you can achieve success in both areas.
1. Study Remotely
Commuting between your job and school can swallow up entire blocks of time.
Cut this out by shortening the journey between the two.
Skip the long drive to campus — choose online classes. Online degree programs offer the same certificate options, but you can study from home.
Online learning also means a more focused environment where you’re less likely to experience the distractions of other classmates. This boosts productivity, which also saves time.
You could also shorten the commute by getting a job on campus. (Not all courses offer the option to be an online student.) If this is the case, look for campus jobs so you can run between the two without wasting time on a long drive. Think coffee shops on campus or teaching aid opportunities.
2. Get a Grip on Your Schedule
If you’re trying to balance a full-time job with an academic program, you’ll have a pretty busy schedule.
Take control by planning hour by hour.
Create a to-do-list and prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. Make sure to include all activities and carve out ample time for each task.
But keep in mind that your coursework will take more than your in-class study time.
On average, students spend around 16 hours per week preparing for class, and five to six hours on course reading.
While you can track deadlines and work hours in a calendar or planner, consider using AI scheduling tools or a task list app. They can help you schedule your time faster and keep you on track with automated reminders.
3. Master Time Management
You’ll need considerable time management skills when you’re balancing work and school.
If you don’t manage your time well, you’ll spend too long on the wrong tasks, miss deadlines, or find yourself rushing.
Try methods like The Pomodoro Technique and Time blocking to stay on track.
4. Pace Yourself
Don’t overload yourself with school work and professional obligations until you burn out. Consider taking part-time courses instead of full-time.
Think of it this way.
Each 7-week college course you enroll in usually needs 18 hours of dedicated work per week. But a 14-week course only needs nine hours of weekly work.
If you work a full-time job, it’s easier to fit nine hours into your schedule than 18. If you have a part-time job, spread your courses out so you have enough time to take multiple classes at once.
Adopting a growth mindset can empower you to better adapt to these changes, ensuring you stay motivated and focused on your goals.
5. Make Vacation Count
Use your vacation time wisely.
If it’s a vacation from your job, use it to catch up on reading and assignments.
If you have time off school, double down on work shifts and save the money so you can work less during the semester.
Or, use the time to catch up on much-needed rest from your busy work and school schedules.
6. Communicate with Your Employer
Get ahead of the potential schedule struggle — communicate with your employer in an honest way. Let them know about busy weeks at college ahead of time and ask them to adjust your work schedule accordingly.
Employers work better when they understand your limited time, so they can help accommodate your needs and balance their workforce.
If you’re open and upfront, they’re more likely to discuss opportunities for flexibility in your working hours.
Set up clear communication channels and discuss the protocol for adjustments. For example, you might be able to take unpaid personal time for exams.
7. Buddy Up
A study partner can help relieve some of the burden when you have assignments to stay on top of while also working.
Here’s how you and your study buddy can help each other:
- Share class notes and academic resources
- Divide the reading list and swap notes
- Remind each other about deadlines
- Schedule joint study sessions
A compatible partner can help you stay motivated and productive, while cutting down on your physical workload.
8. Create Your Own Online Business
An online business can help you reduce how many in-person work hours you’d need to support yourself while studying. There’s also passive income potential.
For example, you could sell digital products, launch an affiliate blog, or offer freelance services, like graphic design or copywriting.
But running an online business also takes planning. And if you want to build a passive income stream, you often need to frontload the work.
Aside from the initial setup, you’ll need to put time in to learn the key aspects of running a business, like digital marketing, website design, and system automation. You’ll also need to spend time managing its reputation, making sure customers leave positive feedback, communicating with customers, and even removing fake reviews.
Plan for this extra time. Consider starting your business when school’s out so you have more time to focus on learning the ropes.
9. Cut Back on Social Commitments
Your social life is important. But, it’s okay to say no to social commitments when you need to focus on your school work and job.
Cut back on your social calendar so you have more time to focus on your studies or pick up extra shifts.
Don’t ignore your personal life, just prioritize it better.
Think carefully about your schedule and steer away from unnecessary commitments, especially during demanding periods.
The right work-life balance can help your academic performance and prevent burnout.
Find the Perfect Work-School Balance
Balancing work and school takes planning.
A well-crafted schedule, effective time management techniques, and reduced pressure help considerably.
Find full- or part-time work — remote or in-person, that aligns with your class schedule and works with your commuting distance.
Remember that talking to your employer can also go a long way. They won’t understand your time management struggles if you don’t talk about them.
If you put these these 9 strategies for balancing work and school in practice, you will boost your chances of achieving sustained success in both areas.