It happens to millions of university students all across the globe at once or many times in their lives – working while studying.
With reasons varying for wanting to earn, students will have to contend with school and work demands, notwithstanding the possibility of being unable to do homework, having a shorter study time than regular students, or having difficulty passing exams due to mental and physical strains.
Yet, working while studying is a fact which may be a bit challenging for many students but usually comes with great fulfilment when balancing work and school effectively.
Think of the Gains, Not the Pains. College, as you know, is pivotal to your career in your chosen field.
It might be inviting to think of just focusing on school but, usually today, students will have to earn for themselves to finish college.
Here are proven help tips to successfully balance work and school.
Choose a job in the field you want to enter
Earning your own cash is important, but there's nothing like acquiring related skills and experience ahead of your batch, and the recommendation from your employer/s as soon as you move on to another company post-university.
Try to see if there are openings in the campus or elsewhere that can give you the opportunity.
Organize your study space
When balancing work and school, set up a space in a room dedicated to your studies, whether in your bedroom or living room, and make sure the place is conducive to learning (well ventilated and lit, and generally free from distractions).
Place all your things for study in this spot. The point is to create a mindset of study.
Have a schedule for school and work
Do this when balancing work and school. This is where a college student's time management skill is put to test. While it seems daunting, it doesn't have to be.
After all, you cannot be in both places at the same time. Find class schedules that put your studies in top priority, meaning, the time of the day when you have the most energy.
This will keep you revved up to continue your studies. Using non-technical scheduling tools can also offer a big help. Use post-its and/or calendars to help you keep track of deadlines, special class dates, and special events.
Find a student-friendly employer
Prior to applying for a job, be sure to find out if the company or business has had many instances of hiring students previously.
These companies are likely to be understanding and considerate of the demands of being a student, and will probably allow you to have a flexible schedule when need arises, such as meeting assignment or project deadlines.
To balance school and work, inform your employer that you can only work part time on certain number of hours per week, and ask for a leave from work a couple weeks before the finals week.
Remember that you are working for your studies and not the other way around. Hence, ,be sure to pass in all your degree courses, which you can do by not involving yourself too much with work than academics.
Start slowly
How to balance work and school? Start slowly. This is especially true if you begin work at the beginning of a semester which is commonly the adjustment period.
Do not commit to working a lot of hours immediately. Also try to sit back and relax. Working students are even advised to avoid working on the weekends and, instead, enjoy the time with hanging out with friends and family.
Relaxation helps relieve you of stress from school and work, and makes you even more productive in both areas.
Do school work everyday
Always spend a few minutes, when you arrive home after work, to do school work no matter how tired you already are.
Never make it a habit to retire immediately to bed because this can be seriously detrimental to your ability to do well. Also don't fail to communicate with co-workers and classmates to be able to get some help when needed.
Smile and take care of yourself
Being a student and working at the same is a feat not all college students can pull off. So take time to smile and take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eat healthy, and work out in your spare time.
This helps your engines revved up and functioning to their optimum. Also do not forget to reward yourself for the hard work. Buy something for yourself other than the things needed for school.
Lastly, remember this, you and your studies come first, not your job.
