Study tips while working full time

Eager to improve your skills in the workplace or want to change careers? Studying and working full time is a new challenge, but not impossible. Juggling work, studies, and personal life can be tricky, not to mention the stress of meeting work and study deadlines. The upside allows you to earn an income and work experience while paying for your studies. Planning can minimise the anxiety around this challenge by changing habits and having superpowers in prioritising. Here are seven tips to ensure you study while working successfully.

Plan your schedule:

A schedule is a great tool to identify your priorities and the time spent on each one. Make sure to schedule class times, work times, study time, due dates, appointments and other obligations. Integrate your work calendar with your study calendar so that you are aware of what tasks overlap. When you know what your schedule looks like, you can now commit to social activities with family and friends. You can also colour code your plan for easier reference by having a different colour for each task.

Communicate your schedule:

Work and study schedules sometimes overlap, and it’s all about how you communicate the clashes with your study and work supervisors. It is crucial to inform your boss and co-workers about your unavailability. Lecturers usually know that some students are studying part-time, communicate with your lecturer for a possible extended deadline.

Don’t leave tasks to the last minute:

Always try to keep with your schedule, even if you have to adjust it. You will not perform and be productive if you stay up late to finish assignments or study for a test. Break down your task into smaller steps which is easier to achieve. You will deliver better quality work, feel less stressed and balance it all.

Be Active and Healthy:

It is easy to get take-aways, but unhealthy food will lower your energy levels. You absorb information better when you’re alert, well-fed and rested. Make sure you have a healthy eating and exercise plan during your work and study times. Nutritious foods, a balanced exercise routine and getting enough sleep will boost your energy and brain performance. Thirty minutes of exercise a day will increase your blood flow and help you concentrate better.

Keep study sessions short:

Short study sessions help the synapses in your brain process information much better and faster than long sessions. Try setting aside 1hr to 2hrs before or after work to dedicate to your study.

Rewards yourself:

It is essential to reward yourself after achieving your goal. Go for a hike, enjoy dinner with friends, or maybe a day shopping spree. Choose rewards that you encourage and know you’ll look forward to.

Utilise your leave days:

Take advantage of your leave days. Some jobs make it possible for study leave, and using your annual leave days can benefit study days. Public Holidays are also an excellent way to utilise the days for studying or catching up on work deadlines.

It is overwhelming to study and work simultaneously, but having self-discipline and planning will help you balance both. Studying is temporarily, and the season will pass, but it is rewarding and an outstanding achievement to upskill yourself.