Studying and working… What a time-consuming equation, right? Working full time and studying at the same time can be super challenging from time to time. However, there are some things you can do to make it a bit easier. Here are my tips on how to manage studies while working.
Plan and make a schedule
In my opinion, this is the most important tip, at least this is the thing I benefit from the most myself. Make a plan or a schedule of your time and commit to it. Write down your work hours and when you are planing to study. Also, don’t forget to add your free time, it’s very important to have time to relax.
Make the most of your studying time
To make the most of your studying time, first I’d recommend to use the studying methods you have found effective in the past. In this way, you don’t have to redo anything since the time is clearly limited. If you like taking notes, do that! If making up mnemonics is your thing, use that! If you have visual memory, create a mind map! You can do whatever you like!
Location
Study in a quiet and calm space and make yourself comfortable for the optimal studying experience. Keep your phone or anything else, for that matter, that might catch your attention, at a distance. If possible leave the distraction in another room even. Out of sight out of mind.
Prioritize
Ask yourself, what is the most important thing to do at the moment? Is there a deadline coming up? Does an assignment seem difficult or a lot of work? Break the tasks down into individual sections and prioritize what matters the most at the moment. Usually students have more than one unit/course at the same time, so looking at all the assignments and tasks at once might seem a lot and even trigger feelings of anxiety. Breaking tasks down makes them appear more manageable and not so overwhelming.
Find support, be open, communicate and ask for help
There’s no shame in asking for help or feeling like you need some support. You are allowed to tell your teacher or an employer if you are having hard time keeping up and you’ll figure it out together. I can very much speak of my own experience that it is okay and it’ll make you feel better.
Lastly, slightly related to the last tip, I want to make an important reminder that no job or school is worth destroying your mental health. Prioritizing mental health is essential, and no task or obligation should come at the cost of your well-being. It’s okay to step back, take breaks, and set boundaries. ♡
