Finding the balance between study and work is a common problem for working adults. There are plenty of working adults who wants to pursue their studies in order to advance their career but couldn’t make a move due to the time constraints and responsibility they need to bear. Juggling study with a full-time job isn’t easy, so why not let us tell you how to find the balance between your work, academic commitments and social life?
Whether you’re a student working to pay your tuition and bills, or a working adult who is undertaking a course to advance your skills and career, balancing work and study can seem overwhelming but it can be achieved with some planning and self-discipline.
1. Keep everyone informed
If you have a full-time job, it’s unavoidable that there will be times your work and study schedules clash. In order to prevent this from happening, you should let your boss and co-workers know all of your plotted schedule in advance. Class schedule, group study sessions and exams should all be marked on the calendar as early as possible. Do not give your boss last minute notice as this will reflect to your work etiquette.
2. No procrastination and avoid last minute deadline rush
You can’t expect to achieve good result at work or at school when you stay up all night studying for an exam, or finishing an assignment last minute. Break down your project or assignment into stages and tick them off as you completed each of them. This is a good way for you to ensure your work will be of a better quality. At the same time, you’ll reduce your stress levels and continue to perform well in your job and studies.
3. Create your own schedule
A schedule is a great way for you to list out all your tasks at hand and plan your priorities and the amount of time you need to get everything done. Make sure to fill in everything as detailed as possible including class, work and study time, deadlines, appointments and other duties. This way, you’ll know exactly when your free time is, so you can schedule in leisure and social time accordingly.
4. Learn to manage stress
It’s inevitable that working and studying at the same time can be stressful, but there are many ways to manage stress. Some people relieve stress through exercising or meditation, some choose to have stress-relieving food. You just need to figure out your own way of relieving stress effectively. Reducing stress is not only important for your physical and mental health. It helps you to stay focused and become your best, most productive self.
5. Reward yourself
Reward yourself every time you successfully completed a task. Have a nice dinner and chill with your friends and family, or go on a fun day trip on the weekend. Choose rewards that can motivate you to work harder to complete your tasks. But always remember not to push yourself too hard. Get a break in between and have some nutritious snacks or taking a short nap can boost your brain and body’s performance. Short breaks can help reboot your brain and refresh your focus hence increasing your performance and productivity.
6. Focus on your goal and the reward for achieving it
Always keep in mind why you decide to pursue your studies at the beginning despite having a full-time job and stay focused on that goal. This will keep you motivated whenever you feel like giving up. You can do this by creating a vision board of your ideal life, share it with your family and friends and asking them to remind you of it when you need it most.
7. Choose course that is related to the industry you’re working in
Study and work in the same or related industry is a great way to balance your work and studies. You can apply the skills and knowledge you learn from school at work, and what you learn from work can be used as case studies for your assignments. Not only that, you’ll get more experience, see the business world through different perspective, thus both studying and working will be fun.
8. Apply grants or scholarships and pay for tuition fee
Apply for a grant or scholarship from government or local NGOs to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also use the money you earn from work to pay for your studies.
If you’re still worried about the stress, why not choose a fast-track programme that is delivered 100% online, no examination and recognized by the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). We provide affordable programme pathways that can be completed quickly with ‘top-up’ options for people that have prior work experience and academic qualifications, in a simpler way means you can enroll with working experience. Our courses are designed for working professional looking to upskill themselves, and this is made possible by the network of dedicated support and online learning features that allow career-minded individuals to learn in their own time with flexible schedule.
Let us help you maintain a healthy balance between work and study, and have fun at the same time.
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