Balancing a job with part or full-time study is not an ideal situation, but sometimes it’s necessary.
You’re doing it because you need to pay rent or college tuition, want to rack up some work experience while you study, or want to further your career by getting another qualification.
Millions of people have done and are doing it, but working while studying isn’t easy.
Kudos to you for taking this path.
However, the question on your mind now is, “How do I successfully manage working and studying without losing my head?”
This post will give you a few tips to make this journey a little easier.
Table of Contents
1. Forget Motivation and Build Discipline
Discipline is the star of the show in your work and study journey. It’s what you need to focus on building before you even create a study schedule.
Most students rely on motivation to help them study. But it’s incredibly hard to stay motivated after a long day at work — your bed and Netflix will look oddly tempting, right?
Therefore, to stay focused on your study goals, you’ll have to be consistent every day. Commit to studying when you come home every evening or before work, and stick to that time.
It’ll be uncomfortable getting into this new routine, but the more you do it, the more it’ll become second nature.
2. Learn How to Study Actively
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “study smarter, not harder”?
Well, studying smart becomes even more necessary for you now because you’re already strapped for time due to work.
You don’t have the luxury of being a student who’s living on campus and has all day to take notes, watch lectures, and grasp the content.
This means you need to make studying more efficient.
I’ve done a lot of research into the most efficient study methods, and by far, the best way to study is to actively recall.
Active recall means putting in effort to retrieve information from your brain by using practice tests, flashcards, etc. This helps information stick longer in your memory.
Here’s a more in-depth post by Ali Abdaal explaining how to actively recall. Plus, I recommend reading the book, “Make it Stick,” which goes into greater detail about active forms of learning.
Now, let’s talk about the other end of the spectrum — the least effective or passive methods of studying. These include taking notes, re-reading, and highlighting. I’m guilty of heavily using all three during my undergrad, and it’s no wonder I got poor grades.
These methods are long, arduous, and ineffective because they don’t solidify information in our memory for the long term. Yet, we spend so much time on them because they create a false sense of accomplishment.
Related Post: 7 Effective Study Habits to Develop That Will Make You a Better Student
3. Create a Realistic Study Plan
It’s very easy to get carried away when creating a study plan. You might think you’re superhuman and expect to study five modules a day, but this isn’t realistic when you’re tired from work.
Sometimes, when planning the next three months, I’ll add four hours of studying per day. But when I actually sit at my desk, my mind can only focus for two of those hours.
Don’t set unrealistic expectations of yourself because you will get overwhelmed and burnt out.
Instead, protect your time and energy by making a study schedule that’s easy to stick to for your lifestyle.
You can do this in a physical or digital planner, spreadsheet, Google Calendar, or one of those fancy scheduling apps.
Related Post: How to Create a Study Plan That Works for You (12 Steps)
4. Tell Your Employer That You’re Studying
You might be tempted to keep things a secret from your employer, but it’s a good idea to tell them as they’re investing time and resources in you.
You might also need to negotiate study leave at some point, and they’ll be more likely to agree if they know upfront.
Plus, this news can give you a leg up in your current job. Your company might sponsor your studies or even have a promotion ready once you’ve completed your qualification.
5. Get Enough Sleep, Exercise, and Good Food
As stressful as your work/study situation is, never compromise your physical health. This will hurt you in the short and long term.
Sleep is crucial for our brains to process information correctly and to sharpen focus. So, get your standard 8-9 hours so you can perform at your best in your job and studies. Nobody wants a zombie working for them, and you want to be fresh and energized when you study.
Also, don’t push nutrition and exercise to the bottom of your priority list. They’ll only make your journey smoother.
Remember, you don’t have to do strenuous exercise — 15 minutes of cardio a day is sufficient.
You might also find it more timesaving to order takeout, and that’s fine. However, make sure it’s healthy. Scarfing down a double cheeseburger might feel good now, but you’re just going to feel lethargic later.
It’s also good to meal prep. Cook a large portion of a healthy meal and then seal the leftovers for the next few days.
When you take care of your body, you’ll function at your optimum to nail working and studying.
6. Have an Accountability Partner
This doesn’t have to be a lonely journey.
When you do things alone, it’s easy not to do them because nobody is checking up on you. So, it helps to share your experiences with others — it halves your burden.
Have an accountability partner or partners — friends who are also studying while working. You can motivate and remind each other about your goals.
7. Remind Yourself Why You’re Doing This
Life is going to get tough. There will be days when you’re so tired or busy that you forget your purpose, which can make you resent your situation.
Keep a journal or vision board to remind yourself of the end goal. Write down what you want to achieve, what your career goals are, and where you want this experience to take you.
This will encourage you every day, and you’ll have a clear direction.
8. Do the Things You Enjoy Too
Working while studying doesn’t mean that your life has come to an end.
It’s important to maintain a balance between the things you enjoy and work/study, or you’ll burn out and start to resent it.
Go out with your friends, take up a hobby, learn a new skill unrelated to your field of study, or read nonsense fiction.
Make time for whatever entertains you in your schedule. However, be wary of how much time you spend and where. This downtime should be energizing, so you can return to the hustle feeling happier and more recharged.
9. Avoid Social Media
Social media is the biggest time-suck. Two minutes of checking Instagram can turn into two hours — and that’s time you could’ve spent on your education.
Try to reduce your social media usage by turning your phone or notifications off and placing your phone in another room.
Many students also swear by the Freedom app, which blocks search engines and social media channels on your computer/phone for a set time. This eliminates the temptation entirely.
Related Post: 7 Ineffective Study Habits to Say Goodbye to If You Want Better Grades
10. Re-evaluate if Studying and Working is the Best Option
Balancing both might be your only choice if you really need that income. However, if you don’t and are finding it difficult to manage the two, then maybe you should eliminate one — preferably your job, as studying guarantees that you’ll find a good job later.
Consider taking a gap year or even working part-time if you aren’t comfortable eliminating a source of income.
This isn’t feasible for many, but you should protect your time and energy and give yourself the best possible chance at achieving good grades.
Final Thoughts
You’ve made a bold decision to work and study — it definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Put the above tips into action and watch your productivity soar.
Thanks for reading :).