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Tips For Managing School and a Job- Pinnacle Career Institute

Written by Jeremy Cooper | Oct 28, 2022 4:52:18 PM

Are you a college student struggling to balance school and work? It is normal to feel overwhelmed if you're working full-time as a college student, but don't worry. Our following tips will help you keep the right balance between your college program and full-time work.

 

Tips For Managing School and a Job

 

The demands of school and work can often cause stress and anxiety in college students. Many students struggle to juggle their studies and extracurricular activities without adding a part-time job to the mix, let alone a full-time job. This is especially difficult for adult students needing financial aid to pay their bills or save money.

This article provides helpful tips on balancing work and school effectively. Students and employees who follow these strategies will achieve their educational goals and full-time job performance.

If you're a student who wants to balance school and work full-time with less stress, this article is for you. Whether on campus or at work, apply our tips to have better time management and save to pay your bills.

The Importance of Time Management

Time management is one of those things we all struggle with. We are constantly bombarded with emails, texts, phone calls, meetings, etc., and it seems like the hours in a day are not enough to do your tasks, especially when you are studying and balancing work. But how do you make sure you are getting everything done? 

Here are some tips to help you to get a college degree while working full-time and remain productive:

Don't let work consume you

If you find yourself working late into the night or waking up early in the morning as you feel you must finish something, take a step back and reevaluate why you are doing this. You might be trying to avoid feeling guilty or anxious about something, but this doesn't mean you should sacrifice your health or happiness to achieve this goal.

Set priorities

When you place your priorities, you'll be able to determine what needs to be completed now versus later. For example, maybe you want to start a side hustle but don't want to put off paying bills or taking care of your current responsibilities. It's important to figure out what matters most to you so you can concentrate on accomplishing these tasks and save your time.

Make a plan

Once you've determined what needs to get done, write down your plans. This will give you a tip on where you need to spend your time and energy. 

Work Quality

Your work quality might go down in your education and your job if you juggle the two with limited time. There are several ways to improve your work quality:

  1. Take breaks. Studies show that people who regularly take breaks from their work tend to perform better than those who don't. So, schedule regular breaks throughout the day, whether you're studying or working.
  2. Stay organized. Keep track of deadlines and due dates using a smartphone calendar app. Also, organize your notes, homework, and projects by placing them in folders.

Ability to Focus 

You've already heard about the benefits of focusing on one thing at a time, but what does it take to do it? Here are some useful tips for you to become more focused every day and be successful in your school program:

Set a goal: Before you start anything, decide what you want out of it. For example, "I'm going to read this book chapter by chapter." Once you know what you want to accomplish, set a deadline. This way, you won't procrastinate because you don't feel like doing it anymore.

Schedule your time: You might think you have plenty of free time, but you probably don't. So, make sure you schedule a time to work on your goals. Make a list of everything you plan to do and stick to it. Then, block out specific times on your calendar.

Block out distractions: When trying to concentrate, turn off notifications on your phone and avoid communicating with friends. And, don't open up Facebook or Twitter unless you have to receive a text message from someone.

Take breaks: Sometimes, we just need a break from our studies. Go outside, walk around campus, or even go for a quick run. These small changes can help refresh your mind and give you the energy to continue working and improve your study time quality.

Reward yourself: After completing a big project, reward yourself. Maybe, treat yourself to lunch or buy something fun. Just make sure you aren't getting carried away or missing your schedule.

Find balance: Too much studying can cause stress and anxiety. Try taking a break every hour or so. Get up and stretch or move around. Do whatever works best for you.

Stick to Deadlines

The best way to lead a peaceful life is to plan ahead. Knowing what you want to accomplish each day makes it easier to stick to deadlines and meet important goals. Here are some helpful tips for balancing full-time work throughout the school program in college:

Set up a Schedule: A schedule helps you organize your time better and keep track of everything you have to do. You can use a calendar app like Google Calendar, Apple iCal, Outlook, or Microsoft OneNote, which are popular among college students, to set up different events and appointments. This way, you can see exactly how many hours you have left to complete any homework and project.

Keep Up With Your Education Plan: You should always ensure you're doing well academically. If you find yourself falling behind in classes, take note of why you aren't meeting your academic goals. Whatever the reason, you'll need to address it before things get worse and your busy schedule gets busier.

How to Manage Work & School

Studying is supposed to be fun. But it doesn't always feel like it for every student. Between classes, homework assignments, extracurricular activities, and meeting friends or family members make it difficult to save time to balance work and school.

And even though most people will say they enjoy being college students, many struggle to balance work and school. To help you manage everything, here are some tips to make sure you're getting the best out of both worlds. 

Create a To-do List

Many people are afraid to make a to-do list because they think it'll take away from their creativity. But creating one doesn't mean you won't be creative anymore; it just gives you structure. You can do whatever you want, but you're making sure you don't let anything fall through the cracks.

You can create weekly to-do lists that include your every class, meeting, job schedule, and other responsibilities. Or, you can make up separate schedules for each class and shift schedules, especially if some of your classes are on campus while others are online classes. 

Either way, try to stick to one list at a time. That way, you can focus on only one thing without worrying about what else needs to get done.

Stay Organized

Use your phone's calendar app to track important dates. You don't want to forget about an appointment or event. Voice assistants will help you stay organized. They are great tools to use while driving. Just ask Siri or Alexa to remind you when something comes due.

If you're not using a smartphone, you can also use paper planners. Some students like to write down reminders on sticky notes and put them in places where they'll see them often. Others use digital organizers like Evernote or Google Keep.

Reduce Distractions

Distractions are everywhere. They come from our phones, social media, and even the people around us. We've become accustomed to being constantly connected and distracted. However, studies show that eliminating distractions helps us perform better academically. The key is to create a dedicated study space.

Stick To Your Study Times

If you're like every other college student, you probably spend hours every day studying, even during your lunch break. If you've been spending too many hours sitting down in front of your laptop, you might want to take a break. Sticking to your study times and not going over is crucial to have proper balance in your school life.

Prioritize Tasks

Prioritizing tasks makes it easier to manage everything that comes with running your life. A good way to do this is by planning ahead. You'll find yourself less stressed and able to focus on the most important parts of your life, such as spending precious time with your friends and family.

If you can't decide what to prioritize, try asking yourself questions such as "What are my priorities?" and "How am I feeling today?" If you think about how you feel, you might realize that there are certain things that aren't worth stressing over. 

By organizing your life, you'll find yourself getting rid of clutter, being more productive, and ultimately having a slightly more flexible schedule. By doing this, you'll actually enjoy your free time more since you'll be able to spend it with the things you want to do instead of trying to remember where you left off on all of your projects.

Take Care Of Yourself

We live in a world where we always stay active. We work long hours, juggle multiple responsibilities, and often feel like there isn't enough time in the day to do everything we want to do.

But taking care of ourselves during busy times is essential. And one way to ensure you're getting the necessary rest is scheduling downtime throughout the week. This includes taking walks, reading, listening to music, spending time with your family, or even relaxing in a quiet spot. 

It is also important to eat multiple meals, exercise, and get enough sleep to have enough energy to conquer the day for your school and job.

Utilize Your PTO Wisely

If you decide to use your PTO money for something fun, make sure you put it towards activities that help you study. For instance, you might go out to eat once every week or take a class that teaches you how to play guitar. However, if you plan to use your PTO for studying, you should consider taking advantage of free resources such as Khan Academy.

Khan Academy offers thousands of free online classes. These lessons cover topics ranging from math to history to science. They're available 24/7, so you can access them whenever necessary.

Browse Programs at Pinnacle Career Institute

With training from Pinnacle Career Institute, successful futures can begin. You'll be well on your way to a successful career quickly with the help of our intensive trade school programs. Find out what PCI can do for you. 

Programs are offered on various topics, such as a Wind Turbine Technician Program and many more. Why not learn about our program details and apply here to begin the next exciting chapter of your life? 

Conclusion

If you have a job while in a college program, you should take advantage of any free time you may have during the week. Use that time wisely and put it towards learning new skills, taking classes, or even volunteering. This will give you a better understanding of managing your work schedule and keeping track of your education.

Use any helpful resources and other benefits offered to you, including educational services, financial aid services, and much more, to be a successful student and a professional employee.