For the past two semesters I’ve been interning part time at RadiusOnline while also taking a full load of classes. I can assure you that this is no easy task. I have by no means mastered the art of time management, but I have learned a few tricks along the way to make my busy life a little easier. I’ve whittled it down to the top three things you can do to help make juggling both classes and work a little bit easier.
1. Stay organized
Staying organized is one of the best ways to help ease the stress of working and going to school full time. For me personally, if I don’t write something down I will most likely forget about it. I’ve been able to remedy this by writing down everything I need to get done for the day and crossing things off as I get them done (which is the most satisfying thing ever). You can try this tactic, or do whatever else helps you feel the most organized so that you can set yourself up to succeed.
2. Be open about your schedule
Managing your time while working and taking classes is hard, but being closed off about your schedule makes it even harder. Try to be as transparent as possible when it comes to your scheduling needs. For example, if you can only work certain days of the week due to class constraints, have an open dialogue about it. Being upfront with your employer about your schedule can make everything so much easier.
3. Use your time wisely
While some students may be able to get home and binge watch Netflix, that’s not usually an option for us working students. When we get back from work we have homework to worry about and when we get back from class it’s usually time to go to work. So when you do have free time use it to do whatever it is you need to do, whether that’s homework or projects or even just taking a well-deserved nap. Just make sure you’re not wasting your very limited free time doing things that aren’t important.
Working and taking classes can be hard but it is absolutely do-able. Juggling the two can be stressful at times, but if you implement these tips you will be on the way to mastering that work/school balance.