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Best way to manage working and attending school?
What is the best way to manage working and attending school? I am struggling with balancing my time for both. Is there anything I should change or anything that could be beneficial to know?
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4 answers
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Matthew’s Answer
Hi Alexis, great question! The answer is, it depends on your priorities and how you prefer to see things. Here's a few things.
Quick tips to get more done:
- Sleep schedule: If you sleep more than 8 hours a night I would recommend trying to cut it down to 7-8. Yeah it might suck for awhile but if being groggy is the only issue and not mental degradation then you'll have more time to get school work done
- Phone Usage: If you find yourself on social media all the time, I would recommend also scrolling LinkedIn/News app of your choosing. Or if you're on Facebook, make look up Facebook events related to your major. If you're on Instagram, maybe start looking up and following influencers/posts about topic areas you're interested in. If you like TikTok, try to find some reputable influencer's that break down topics and concepts. If you're on your phone anyways trying to shift from entertainment to education or learning so you don't have to spend so much extra time on studying
- Commuting: You can upload PDF's and class notes to Google Notebook for free and create a quick explainer video but more importantly an AI generated podcast that only uses the class PDF's you provided. This can be a great way to add to your study time for free
If you want a more hard and set way to do things, I would suggest time blocking.
An example of how you can time block your day would be:
6-630 am wake up and get ready for work
6 30-715 commute to work
730-330 pm work
345-430 pm commute back home
430 pm - 530 pm dinner
530pm - 7 pm hangout with friends
730 pm - 830 pm study
830-930 pm watch tv/wind down for bed
10 pm sleep
The main thing is having "blocks" of time like an hour for activities such as hanging with friends or school. For about a month try to keep track of about how much time it takes for you to do things and you can get better at balancing work with school.
If you are undergrad and working part time, even better! Start by filling in a calendar with your work and school schedule with the hours you're going to be there. Time how long it normally takes to commute to both. Then fill in the remaining time with hour block increments for studying, hanging with friends, extra curriculars, etc. You get better as time goes on.
Hope it helps!
Buy a calendar and ruler
Make a grid with the day and hour increments (6-7, 7-8, etc.)
Write in your work time and school time
Track your progress
Quick tips to get more done:
- Sleep schedule: If you sleep more than 8 hours a night I would recommend trying to cut it down to 7-8. Yeah it might suck for awhile but if being groggy is the only issue and not mental degradation then you'll have more time to get school work done
- Phone Usage: If you find yourself on social media all the time, I would recommend also scrolling LinkedIn/News app of your choosing. Or if you're on Facebook, make look up Facebook events related to your major. If you're on Instagram, maybe start looking up and following influencers/posts about topic areas you're interested in. If you like TikTok, try to find some reputable influencer's that break down topics and concepts. If you're on your phone anyways trying to shift from entertainment to education or learning so you don't have to spend so much extra time on studying
- Commuting: You can upload PDF's and class notes to Google Notebook for free and create a quick explainer video but more importantly an AI generated podcast that only uses the class PDF's you provided. This can be a great way to add to your study time for free
If you want a more hard and set way to do things, I would suggest time blocking.
An example of how you can time block your day would be:
6-630 am wake up and get ready for work
6 30-715 commute to work
730-330 pm work
345-430 pm commute back home
430 pm - 530 pm dinner
530pm - 7 pm hangout with friends
730 pm - 830 pm study
830-930 pm watch tv/wind down for bed
10 pm sleep
The main thing is having "blocks" of time like an hour for activities such as hanging with friends or school. For about a month try to keep track of about how much time it takes for you to do things and you can get better at balancing work with school.
If you are undergrad and working part time, even better! Start by filling in a calendar with your work and school schedule with the hours you're going to be there. Time how long it normally takes to commute to both. Then fill in the remaining time with hour block increments for studying, hanging with friends, extra curriculars, etc. You get better as time goes on.
Hope it helps!
Matthew recommends the following next steps:
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical Engineer, Software Developer, and Career Mentor
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Answers
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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Balancing work and school can be tough, but you can do it! Start by focusing on what matters most. Use tools like Google Calendar or a planner to create a clear schedule for classes, studying, work, meals, and sleep. Make the most of your time by grouping similar tasks together and using breaks wisely. Try the Pomodoro method to stay focused. Break big projects into smaller tasks with mini-deadlines to make them easier to handle.
Talk to your employer and professors about your schedule; they might be flexible when they know your commitments. Use resources like tutoring, study groups, and productivity apps to stay organized and meet deadlines. Remember to take care of yourself and your mental health. Use active study techniques like explaining material to friends or doing practice problems to help you learn better.
Keep a supportive group of friends, and don't be afraid to say no to extra commitments that might stress you out. Look into scholarships, grants, or flexible courses to ease your workload. Think of your responsibilities like a project with goals, and celebrate small successes along the way. By focusing on what matters, managing your time well, staying organized, and taking care of yourself, you can balance work and school without burning out.
Talk to your employer and professors about your schedule; they might be flexible when they know your commitments. Use resources like tutoring, study groups, and productivity apps to stay organized and meet deadlines. Remember to take care of yourself and your mental health. Use active study techniques like explaining material to friends or doing practice problems to help you learn better.
Keep a supportive group of friends, and don't be afraid to say no to extra commitments that might stress you out. Look into scholarships, grants, or flexible courses to ease your workload. Think of your responsibilities like a project with goals, and celebrate small successes along the way. By focusing on what matters, managing your time well, staying organized, and taking care of yourself, you can balance work and school without burning out.
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Alexis. It is possible to manage both work and school successfully. First, you need to make a clear schedule and write down all your fixed commitments, like class times, work hours, and regular personal responsibilities. Then, plan study or homework time around these blocks. Planning ahead can reduce stress and prevent last-minute cramming.
It's also important to prioritize tasks. Some assignments or work tasks are more urgent than others, so you should focus on what needs to be done first. You can also break large projects into smaller steps and spread them out over several days. This makes your workload feel easier to manage and helps you complete everything on time.
While working more hours can help you earn money, too many hours can affect your schoolwork and health. If work feels too demanding, you can talk to your employer about changing your schedule or reducing hours.
Moreover, you can ask for help when you need it. Professors, advisors, and supervisors are often willing to work with students who have busy schedules, but you need to let them know early if you have conflicts or need extensions.
It's also important to prioritize tasks. Some assignments or work tasks are more urgent than others, so you should focus on what needs to be done first. You can also break large projects into smaller steps and spread them out over several days. This makes your workload feel easier to manage and helps you complete everything on time.
While working more hours can help you earn money, too many hours can affect your schoolwork and health. If work feels too demanding, you can talk to your employer about changing your schedule or reducing hours.
Moreover, you can ask for help when you need it. Professors, advisors, and supervisors are often willing to work with students who have busy schedules, but you need to let them know early if you have conflicts or need extensions.
Updated
Karen’s Answer
You have taken the first step of managing your time by asking this question. Good for you!
Keep a daily task list, either on your laptop, phone or on paper that you see every day. Add everything to it as things come up, such as assignments -- note the task several days before it's due, and if you don't complete it that day, move it to the next day. Choose a specific time each day to review your list -- first thing in morning and end of day work well. Include fun things you schedule and daily tasks like needing to clean your room or send a birthday card to someone.
Once you know you have everything in one place, it will be easier to manage it all. When a new task comes up, you can feel confident you will accomplish it because you have it scheduled. Remember to enjoy life too!
With every good wish and many blessings.
Keep a daily task list, either on your laptop, phone or on paper that you see every day. Add everything to it as things come up, such as assignments -- note the task several days before it's due, and if you don't complete it that day, move it to the next day. Choose a specific time each day to review your list -- first thing in morning and end of day work well. Include fun things you schedule and daily tasks like needing to clean your room or send a birthday card to someone.
Once you know you have everything in one place, it will be easier to manage it all. When a new task comes up, you can feel confident you will accomplish it because you have it scheduled. Remember to enjoy life too!
With every good wish and many blessings.