7 Tips for Balancing Work and Study

Even if they are the recipients of veterans scholarships, many military personnel transitioning to civilian life as students choose to work while they study. While rewarding, this can be quite challenging. Read on for tips on how to be successful in balancing work and school.

Communicate With Your Employer

Communication is important in all aspects of your life, but it’s crucial when you’re walking the tightrope between work and school. Talk to your employer about what you are studying and why, and try to show him or her the benefits your studies can bring to the workplace, if any. How receptive your boss is to your studies depends a lot on what kind of job you have.

If you’re working a part-time job that has nothing to do with your future career aspirations, it may be harder to convince your employer that you need flexible hours and shifts to accommodate your academic schedule. However, if you land a long-term gig relevant to your field of study, your boss may be more than willing to help you schedule your life as a student, with the understanding you’ll bring some of your new skills and knowledge to the table at work. But whether your supervisor loves or hates the idea of you going back to school, you won’t know until you ask.

Schedule “You” Time

Think about all the balls you juggle from day to day: You’ve got your home life, your work life and your social life, and maybe you have hobbies or other interests that also take up time. And now you’re going to add in school? Experts agree that people tend to overcommit themselves when they’re working and studying in tandem. That’s not to say being busy is bad — it’s just that it can hasten burnout, add stress and even lead to depression. Make time for yourself, whether it’s an hour a day at the pool or gym, or ten minutes a day catching up on silly cat video clips.

Be Realistic

There’s always one story out there that makes us think we’re not doing enough. The kid who received his second Ph.D. at age 17. The working mother who started a nonprofit and singlehandedly ended poverty in her neighborhood. The friend who lost 50 pounds last year and now teaches step aerobics at your gym. These people have awesome stories and should be an inspiration to us all. But that doesn’t mean you have to overachieve. If you are studying and working at the same time, you need to be realistic about what you can and can’t accomplish. For example, you may need to work out a stricter budget than you’d normally adhere to, get your spouse to help with the chores or skip your Tuesday night poker game if you’ve got a class deadline coming up.

Have an Organizational System

Something that can help you plan your life as a student and a worker, and that will let you gage whether or not you’re being realistic, is an organizational system. If you’re a smartphone user, like the majority of Americans, you have useful organizational apps right in your pocket or handbag. You’ll need a way to create an integrated schedule of class and work requirements, and probably some note-taking and list-making tools as well.

Keep Your Eye on the Goal

Like any long-term endeavor, self-improvement has its ups and downs. When you’re feeling stressed out or like you should slack off at work or on your homework, it can help to remind yourself of your goals. Why are you studying and working? Is it for greater financial stability? For respect? For a deep-seated passion to learn? If you find your motivation faltering more than once in a while, write out your goal and post it on your fridge or in your office.

Have a Support Network

When your own techniques for self-motivation fail, it’s time to call in reinforcements. Make sure you’ve built yourself a support network for when the going gets tough. Do you have someone who can come watch the kids while you write your final paper? Someone who will sit with you and help you go over the reasons why you didn’t do well on your last assignment? Someone who can just kick back with you and let you have a worry-free night sometimes? Tell your friends and family — especially your family — what your goals are and what you are doing to achieve them. Ask for their help in advance, and show your gratitude when they come through for you.

Keep Going, You’ll Get There

The road to completing a degree or certificate program can seem long and arduous, especially if you’re working at the same time. The hours you put in at work are hours you can’t spend furthering your studies and vice versa. There may be times when you have to take time off — and less pay — because you’ve got to take a practical exam or attend an out-of-town field trip. It helps to remember you’ll get there; just keep going.

About the Author: Tina Podowski is a motivational speaker and career consultant who blogs about the learning process. She is working on a book about transitioning from military to civilian life.