Working part time is tempting, but it can seriously compromise your study time and cause you to become burned out or overworked.
College is already stressful, so attempting to work and study simultaneously could leave you even more overwhelmed.
Here are some tips to keep your college studies on track:
Table of Contents
Working on Campus
How to study full time and work on campus depends on the type of job. Most schools have work-study jobs available on campus and you can usually schedule them around your classes.
Other students may acquire jobs in their department that count toward their degree program. Be sure to apply for work-study when filling out your FAFSA or speaking to your school’s financial aid department.
However, you should be sure to maximize the time you spend working on campus.
You must remember your motivations for choosing to study full time and to balance work. If your work schedule conflicted with your classes, try to take some time off.
Remember that even the smallest sacrifices will add up to big blocks of study time. Try to choose one sacrifice per day that will not negatively impact your family or friends.
In the end, you’ll be glad you made the choice to pursue a higher education.
You should obtain course schedules for the programs you’d like to pursue. You should also get in touch with employers that provide employment in the same field as your degree program to find out when courses are offered.
Make sure to check if they have flexible hours. If your work schedule is flexible, consider a part-time study schedule instead of working a full-time job. This will ensure you have enough time to get everything done.
In today’s financial environment, many college students need to work part-time. Unfortunately, the cost of education has risen faster than the income of the average family.
Unfortunately, federal grant money is insufficient to meet the needs of college students. Fortunately, many students are finding that balancing work and school is possible and can help them avoid accumulating massive amounts of student loan debt.
The downside is that full-time students must have exceptional time management skills, dedication, and grit to achieve both goals.
Getting a Job While Pursuing a Segree
Getting a job while pursuing resear is an option for students who need to earn extra cash, but do not have the right experience for the job.
Though a degree proves that you have the grit to go through college, it is useless without work experience. To secure a good job, you must have a certain skill and passion in the field.
Luckily, social media can be used to create a professional brand that employers will see.
Despite the stigma associated with being unrelated to your major, getting a job while pursuing a degree is not that difficult.
Companies don’t usually raise an eyebrow when they see that you’re not in the field of your degree. They’ll look at your other qualifications and will likely hire you.
Therefore, you should not worry about your degree. Getting a job while pursuing a degree is a viable option for many students.
Creating a Calendar
The first step in balancing your schedule is to create a calendar. It will help you understand your semester’s landscape. By planning ahead, you’ll be able to avoid the stressful crunch at the end of the semester.
Make sure to include your work schedule. Using a digital calendar makes it easy to update and add events as they occur.
Using a calendar can help you manage your time and prioritize the things that are most important to you.
Academic planners and to-do lists are both effective time management tools. There are many different types of academic planners available commercially, in college bookstores, and even computer calendars.
Whether you use a daily planner or a weekly one, just as long as you’re consistent, any system will work. However, if you don’t like to use a planner, you can always create one yourself.
Students should create a calendar showing when classes are, which days they have free, and when they’ll have free time. It’s also helpful to add non-class activities.
This way, they can keep track of how much time they have for study and other things. A calendar can help students balance their time so that they can achieve their goals and still have free time.
In addition, students can coordinate their time by working with their academic coaches.
Avoiding Distractions
One way to focus is to avoid distractions, such as talking to family or friends or reading music.
Although this can be helpful for some people, it may actually distract others.
For example, when studying in a library, a student may be distracted by the ringing of a telephone or the rhythm of music playing on the radio.
A good technique to counteract these distractions is to write down the specific distraction and say to yourself, “I’m going to get back on track and study full time!”
Repeat this every time the distraction comes up.
Another method for avoiding distractions is to turn off the notifications on your personal electronic devices. Constant notifications can make you lose focus and lead to wasting two hours of your study time without making much progress.
To avoid these interruptions, you can temporarily silence notifications that aren’t essential, including social media and email notifications. Alternatively, you can block websites that cause distractions.
These are some of the easiest ways to avoid distractions and study full time.
You can also turn off your phone’s notifications and turn it to do not disturb mode if you want to concentrate. Distractions can also include social media and TV.
For example, if you’re studying for an exam, it may be better to focus on biology on Monday night and leave English for Tuesday. Using a reader service can help you stay focused and avoid being distracted by other people.
Another method is to avoid distractions by putting aside your personal emails. Even a personal email tab can distract you. It’s better to shut this tab once you have completed the task.
Besides, technology can work in your favor as well. You can use white noise generators or other websites that produce relaxing music. Taking proactive steps is crucial to studying full time and working.
It’s important to make sure you have all the time you need to complete your tasks.
Finding Time to Study
Despite your hectic schedule, finding time to study while working can be done. If you can make use of free time, such as bathroom breaks, you can squeeze in some study time.
Flashcards can be helpful while waiting for customers, and you can listen to audiobooks of your textbooks while commuting. Using your lunch break to go over notes is also a good idea.
Remember that small doses of studying can lead to big benefits.
A good way to make time for studying is to set milestones and reward yourself for achieving them.
For example, if you set a goal of studying for three hours, you are unlikely to be able to complete it in the time available. Instead, set yourself a goal and reward yourself when you reach it.
Studying while working can be both refreshing and rewarding. There is no need to sacrifice your work or study time for the sake of your career.
Schedule your time carefully. Plan your work and study schedule around your scheduled appointments and leave some buffer time in case of emergencies.
For example, if you have a work deadline on a Monday, take an extra half hour to study in the morning before leaving for your train.
Using this time wisely will give you an extra 3.5 hours of study per week. But this may not be possible for everyone. So, make sure to leave yourself a buffer of time.
Besides planning your work schedule carefully, students should also use their free time constructively.
Instead of spending hours mindlessly scrolling social media websites, students should prepare snacks or read a book during breaks.
By utilizing free time wisely, students can study effectively while juggling work and school.
If your schedule is too tight, consider consulting a tutor or support staff for help. Many universities provide support to help students find the best balance between work and study.
