essay about balancing school and work

Balancing School and Work

Offer strategies and insights on balancing school and work commitments effectively. Discuss time management, prioritization, stress management, and the importance of setting realistic goals. Provide tips for maintaining a healthy work-study-life balance, and include anecdotes or case studies of individuals successfully managing both. On PapersOwl, there’s also a selection of free essay templates associated with Employment.

How it works

We spoke with several current and former students about how they can balance work and study. It turned out – if you follow a few simple principles, it can be pretty easy.

1. Prioritize and plan Define priorities both in work responsibilities – the most important work that will bring the greatest result, and in homework assignments – the most significant work of the semester, without which it is impossible to complete the course, as well as the most important minor work, the deadline for which has already come.

After that, combine the priority lists and determine the time required to complete each job. A carefully crafted plan (preferably in writing) will create a sense of confidence that you can control the situation.

Classmates have always envied Liene Krivena, who, during her studies, performed and handed overwork on time. She advises: “Set aside a couple of hours in your daily life that you will devote only to studying. The main thing is to do it systematically and purposefully, not succumbing to the temptation to postpone the time provided for study for another day. “

2. Consider the infrastructure As obvious as it may sound, it will be easier to combine work, study and rest in the place where you study. Located not very far from where you make money. Distance is a relative thing, but you still need to try to choose a job so that you can get to it by public transport without transfers, or so that the road by bike does not take up your last strength (after all, you will still need to work or study after the trip).

3. Continue after practice. If you continue to work in a company where you did your summer internship before, it will be easier to combine work and study. Of course, finding a place to practice is easier than staying there on a permanent basis, but many businesses are open to young professionals. It is important that the experience gained during the practice will be appreciated by the management, and it will be easier for you to get used to the processes of the company.

In addition, you will not need to explain to your boss why you go to university in the mornings, and from semester to semester you will be able to devote more and more time to work since the number of lectures will gradually decrease (of course, with the approach of term papers and bachelor’s projects, do not forget about the first point and in time to shift the emphasis to study).

4. Use your knowledge Often, even regardless of whether the study is related to the profession in which you work, the knowledge gained at the university is better to put into practice immediately — you will be surprised when you see how much specific theoretical knowledge can be used in any daily work. During the Career Ladder event organized by SEB Bank, Edgars Neilands, CEO of Labie Koki, shared similar examples from his life. He mastered the profession of a gardener at Bulduri Horticultural College, and integrated the acquired knowledge not only into work, but also into further education at the Faculty of Cultural History.

5. Become your own employer Working in an office or anywhere else with a clear daily schedule isn’t the only way to make a living and grow your career. Years of study are also suitable for trying yourself in business. Many young people are intimidated by this prospect, but it is not necessary to start with the construction of a factory or an IT giant. You can start in a business incubator (some work under the auspices of universities). The main thing is the desire and willingness to be independent, a good idea and a partner with a similar attitude.

5. Be honest and demanding of yourself

In those moments when it seems that there is too much of everything, remind yourself why you even started what you are doing. “It is clear that you cannot get absolutely everything at once. Hard work and determination – this is what allowed me, thanks to the knowledge I gained in the master’s degree, to found my own company at the age of 26, as well as raise my daughter and meet friends on weekends, ”says Zane Zarina, who worked as a waitress during her studies. This did not prevent her from graduating from the University of Latvia, being one of the best students on the course.

It will be difficult to follow all these principles at once, but start with at least one. When you successfully integrate it into your daily life, tackle the next one. Laura Zveiniece, a student of the Higher School of Banking, has been combining work with study since the first year of her studies. She says that, in her opinion, only two things are important: “This is good planning and understanding why I am doing this. If I can answer these questions and devote enough time to planning work, then there is time for friends, family and parties. ” Now Laura continues to adhere to these principles, studying for a master’s degree and at the same time working full-time.

6. Don’t forget to rest Whatever achievements and ambitions drive us forward, every person needs rest. Prominent American journalist Sidney J. Harris said that the time for rest comes when you don’t have time for it. Every second of rest will help you look at things from a different perspective and will give you new strength and inspiration to move on.

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How Students Balance Full-Time Work and School

Returning to school has its challenges. Here we explore how students balance it all.

Earning a degree is one way to get on a path toward a more gratifying career. But it presents a dilemma for those who need to maintain full-time employment. A job is necessary to pay for school (and life), but school may demand some of the time you typically dedicate to work.

In this Article:

The Challenge

Pros and Cons of Working While Attending School

Advice from Alumni

Balancing work and school is a common problem. In a New York Times Opinion column, grad student and writer Rainesford Stauffer detailed the challenges she’s encountered throughout her college career as someone who has always had to work for a living.

“Collegiate life became an impossible riddle. Which should I quit, the thing that would advance my personhood and career prospects or the thing that enabled me to pay for it?” wrote Stauffer.

The writer funded her undergraduate degree with a combination of student loans and work. But she was surprised when her graduate school professors weren’t more understanding of her need to maintain a job, which sometimes meant missing seminars, workshops, and office hours.

“By working, am I missing opportunities to enhance my education? Undoubtedly. But the truth that gets stuck in my throat every time someone encourages me to leave my job is that my work actually enables my learning. If I hope to complete my education, I can’t ignore paying for it,” wrote Stauffer.

Loans can ease the burden of paying for college, But many are hesitant to live on borrowed money, particularly if they have dependents. Scholarships, even full rides, still leave most students with housing and other costs to bear.

A report by Georgetown University titled Learning While Earning: The New Normal illustrates the problem of college accessibility for people who can’t pay for college outright.

Study Shows Pros and Cons of Working While Attending School

Statistics show that access to higher education is further complicated for those with families or obligations outside of work and school, which often tighten financial and time constraints.

The Georgetown research indicated that a significant proportion of working students with dependents are living below the poverty line. That includes 66 percent of employed learners aged 16 to 29, and 39 percent of those aged 30 to 54.

And though those who remain employed while attending school tend to take out less in student loans, they certainly don’t graduate debt-free. Among students with more than $50,000 in student debt, 22 percent did not work during college, compared to 14 percent of working learners. Still, more than 40 percent from both cohorts have student loan debt.

These statistics underscore the need for many people to maintain full-time employment while they attend school, either to help pay tuition or simply to keep themselves afloat.

Setting Yourself Up for Success at Harvard Extension School

How to Set Goals and Achieve Balance — in and Outside the Classroom

5 Truths About Time Management

The upshot is that after graduating, working learners in most fields are more likely to move into a managerial or professional position than those who only worked or attended school without a job, according to the Georgetown report.

Plus, research from the Pew Research Center shows that the earning potential of people age 24 to 34 with a bachelor’s degree has risen 13 percent since 1984, while the average income of those with master’s degrees has increased by 23 percent.

The numbers show a degree is worth it, but that doesn’t negate the personal struggles and financial hardships that students often have to endure just to afford the cost of living while going to school.

Harvard Extension School’s graduate and undergraduate programs are designed for part-time, non-residential learners, so we see our fair share of people with families and careers in full swing who want to pursue their next chapter without disrupting their lives.

We asked some of them how they do it, and here’s what they had to say.

I took one course at a time. We tend to want immediate results from our invested efforts. The more courses you take, the earlier you will graduate. I had to learn that for someone in my position, with a full-time job and two children, I had to take one course at a time.

I was able to balance my studies with work/family/exercise by multi-tasking. … Anywhere there was overlap with work and school, I would try and use that to my benefit.

My determination in earning a degree from Harvard Extension School drove me to meet all my obligations for my education and career. It took a number of sleepless nights and long hours of hard work. … I also give a lot of credit to my amazing circle of family and friends who have supported me.

I scheduled my class and study time into my calendar each week and then stuck with the plan. I treated time with my family as sacrosanct, and that motivated me to do my school work during the scheduled school work times and to stay focused.

Look at all of the courses offered at HES and design a personalized curriculum to get the most of what you want out of the experience.For example, I was granted some exemptions to study entrepreneurship and organizational behavior.

Organization and having realistic expectations is key (for you and all around you). The support of my loved ones was incredible, and the empathy of the people I work with was always so motivational. … Random acts of kindness go a long way in this process, and a vacation does too!

Sticking to a schedule allowed me to balance my work and school life. I found that if I scheduled time to study and made a commitment to get that work done, then I finished all my work on time.

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Harvard Graduate School of Education professors Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey offer a four step process for overcoming obstacles and achieving lasting change.

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Balancing Work, Studying, Classes, and Social Life Essay

Introduction, works cited.

Students, who work, always face the problem of finding a balance between different social spheres. Some of the students are always under the pressure of working shifts, projects deadlines, exams, and social events. This paper provides effective ways of maintaining everything in order and having every moment fulfilled with joy. Wisely, choosing the working place and effectively managing time will help a student to reach and maintain the balance between work, studies, and social life.

Firstly, it is important to find the balance between working and studying since these two aspects are important for students who are also working. Rail Rihan gives several tips for students who work and study at the same time: “Working in the university is the best option, first because it’s well paid, and secondly because it’s good experience” (qtd. in Swain par.3). Working at the university is beneficial for students since it provides free accommodation (Swain par.2). Moreover, students do not need to spend time commuting, and it saves them time to enjoy social life and spend enough time studying (Swain par. 3). Additionally, there are some limitations regarding the number of working hours for students (Swain par.14). This fact eases time control and helps a student to maintain the balance between studies and other activities.

Another factor, which will help a student to have an exciting and interesting life, is time management. A lack of planning and evaluation of time are two aspects, which students face during their studies (Klein 105). It is hard for students to meet the deadlines; consequently, they tend to leave the tasks until the last minute (Klein 105). Klein experimented with one of his classes: he asked students to designate their “Today’s Goals” (105). It is the first step that a student needs to do to plan his time and find the balance between different aspects of everyday life.

The Center for Teaching and Learning of Stanford University provides several tips to plan activities related to the different spheres of life. The first tip is to use “a quarter planner” to keep track of events, deadlines, presentations, and exams (Stanford University par.1). It will help to see the most occupied days of the period and evaluate the amount of free time. The second tip is to “Take a half-hour to plan a day or week at a time” (Stanford University par. 3). This tip helps to analyze which activities have to be done during the day, and how much time is needed to complete them. The third tip is to understand the source of the problem if a student experiences difficulties while doing the tasks (Stanford University par. 7). Additionally, using “time for yourself” will help to balance a social life with working and studying and bring efficiency to a new level (Stanford University par. 9).

In conclusion, it can be said, that it is possible to find the balance between different spheres. The main goal is to find an interesting job, which would be flexible and beneficial for a student. Time management is the most effective tool to plan and control the time flow of life. Moreover, understanding and implementing time management techniques will boost the effectiveness and help to have an exciting student life, which would be fulfilled with unique opportunities and breathtaking moments.

Klein, Charles. “Time Management: Time Cards.” NACTA Journal 55.4 (2011): 105. Print.

Stanford University Center for Teaching and Learning. n.d. Time Management. n.d. Web.

Swain, Harriet. “Work and Study: Finding a Balance.” The Guardian. 2012: Web.

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Essay on Time

Good Example Of Essay On Balancing School, Work, And Family

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Time , Life , Schedule , People , Routine , Psychology , Mind , Doubt

Words: 1000

Published: 11/19/2021

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An adult person is taking on more and more roles thought the life flow: a worker, a parent, a housekeeper A multitude of various tasks, orders, charges and, of course, dreams are to be fulfilled – and how to cope with the entire load? It seems that you are running out of time even before starting doing anything at all. Moreover, if you think about hours in the day there just does not seem to be enough of them. However, having all your plans mapped out, sorted in a way convenient to comprehend makes your mind more organized and purpose-driven. Lists, tables, notes, phone applications allow to structure your time effectively and efficiently. Making a schedule and sticking to it is the key to success. The first global thought you should comprehend is the importance of your own time. It seems that the prevailing number of people tends to waste their time, with, for example, the Internet being a black hole, where our minutes irreversibly disappear; or such factors as laziness, lack of self-organization etc. being the causes of idling or procrastination. Nonetheless, it is you who decides how to distribute your time between studies, work, leisure and other fields of your activity. Simple understanding of how much time you have – that you cannot re-live or stretch somehow – will lead to you realizing how you want to spend it. Time is precious, and you are to fill it as wisely as you can. The second way to improve your schedule is prioritizing your task. Without a doubt, some chores are more important than others; for example, if other people depend on it or if the deadline for a task is tomorrow. It is of the utmost importance to set your priorities straight and adjust your routine according to those more pressing issues. Thus, if you are making a to-do list, you can put what is significant at the top and note tasks of low priority at the bottom, accordingly. Thus the most important things will appear right before your eyes. You can also do it the other way, first compiling the list and then highlighting more important chores in a way that is convenient to you – marking with a star, putting a star near a chore etc. Thus you will first see the full scope of your duties, and then you will decide upon the order of their completion. The first way will be handier for pragmatists, and the second way will suit people with visual thinking, however it always depends on a person themselves. Nonetheless, visualization does help all of us, so another good way to keep track of things without cluttering your thoughts is to use as much additional tools as needed. Now there is a whole industry aimed at self-organization, with all the possible variations and adjustments – stickers on your fridge, calendar notifications, a myriad of planners available, multiple device applications, even pill organizers come in hand with everyday chores. Naturally, if you have something popping right in front of you, you are less likely to forget about it. Therefore, seeing that a pill for today is still in its box, the tough of taking it will immediately spring to mind. Without a doubt, there will always be outer circumstances beyond our control, that may influence our whole life. Health issues, loss of one’s job, other’s people schedules may throw a monkey wrench into yours, so sometimes you have to sit down for some time and work another schedule up. If needed, it is possible to ask those around you to help with some chores, big events or with the very schedule structuring – doing it together may benefit the whole family at times. You may try to experiment and switch between different variations of your schedule to see which one works the best for your current life situation. You should expect some confusion and be open to imperfections, as living is a flowing and evolving process with all its changes that cannot fit into one strict plan. However, trial and errors sometimes may be the best way to configure effectual balance between different aspects of your life. Of course, uncertainty caused by the abovementioned circumstances is stressful and at times quite difficult to handle. Consequently, one the most important pieces of advice would be to keep up your positive and psychologically persistent, even relaxed, approach towards time management. One should always be aiming at improving it, making it more flexible and less of a turmoil. Keep in mind that your approach may to some extent define the difficulty of your tasks: being eager to have time for as much as possible permits you to achieve more. If you only have one thing planned for a day – for example, doing your laundry – the more tiresome and exhausting the task will seem. Without a doubt, the more you plan, the more you, and when it is so – it seems easier to perform everything you are supposed to, as long as you try to be optimistic. However, if the approach is not systematic, positive attitude will not be enough. People who want to lead an efficient lifestyle, in which all the desired aspects (work life, relationships, creative self-realization etc.) should be rather purposeful in actually sticking to a schedule. Though it is better to demand more from yourself in terms of will power, sometimes there is strong temptation to treat oneself and skip your regular routine. It is a good idea to set a little reward for yourself if you accomplish your routine successfully, be it a pumper evening, home-cooked dinner or a quiet evening with a book. Also, incorporating a special time to relax into your routine will make it more pleasing and easy to follow. When you know that you have something nice happening ahead is a pleasing and stimulating bonus. All in all, life in general can be a real struggle if you are not accustomed to organizing events and keeping them in perspective. Planning your schedule is a hard work indeed and sticking to it is an achievement. Nonetheless, accomplishing something and an ultimate result gives you such a satisfying boost than you stay motivated to keep balancing your life.

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How to Balance Studies With Work

In the present world, managing work, study and family is a serious issue among many individuals. When studies come along the way of work or family, life gets more hectic. We should be able to spend time for study, work as well as family. Effectively balancing studies with work and other important activities of our life including family time, sports, hobbies etc requires efficient management of time and activities. Time is the most precious factor here and for many, there is too much to do within a small time. This essay inspects some steps that can be taken to create a balance between study, work and family.

How to balance studies with work and/or family demand?

Effectively balancing studies with work and other important activities of our life including family time, sports, hobbies etc requires efficient management of time and activities. Making a perfect model of study – work – family is almost impossible. Each individual has his/her own set of responsibilities. Time is the most precious factor here and for many, there is too much to do within a small time. Targeting for a perfect balance between studies and life may not be possible but it is the best if we can plan our life accordingly, so that activities which require high priority are given adequate attention.

Balancing studies with work and life involves realizing the right philosophy of life. The balance depends on how we want to live our life – whether to have a busy schedule with all work and no studies, or to live our life the fullest with family. Our ambitions on a career or studies should never be impaired by work or family. For that, the first step is to set goals for our life. We should review our life from time to time to see how much closer we are approaching to the goal. We should assess what is important and what is not. Some matters may appear urgent to us. A proper assessment on whether it is actually important is the factor for balancing life.

Priorities of life should be set with the goals. As a full time working single mother of two children, my most important priority will be my children. Raising them as good responsible citizens must be my top priority like any other mother. For me my family is thus the most important thing in life. But at times, work priorities may take more of the family and study time than intended.

In order to balance studies with family, focus should be on spending quality time with the family members. It is the quality of the time spent that is considered than the quantity. Family members will appreciate us more if we could attend to them when they are in need like for attending meetings in children’s schools or taking the kids out for their birthday.

When studies come along the way of work or family, life gets more hectic. We should be able to spend time for study, work as well as family. The first step is to talk to the family about the nature of our study and the requirements like time, quietness etc. Without the support of the family members, one will not be able to study or work. Family members should be convinced about the need to study and should be supportive and cooperative. This can act as a great confidence booster for the study. Also one should have a clear cut focus on the topic of study and its purpose. The pros and cons of studying a subject should be analyzed.

The next step is to choose the most suitable work. If the present work timings do not provide ample time for studies and family, it will be better to find a job that is more flexible with the time schedule. The nature of the work and the character of the colleagues and employers should be considered before attempting to start studying. A person with a hectic and tiring job schedule will end up being more tired at the end of the day leaving no time for study or family. Late hour working and over time works should be avoided completely to strike a balance between work and study. It is better to adopt target oriented work which allows flextime working schedules so that studying in between is possible.

Setting up a timetable for each day of the week and following it religiously will impart good results in studying. The timetable should consider immediate needs as well as not so essential needs. An important factor to bear in mind while constructing the time table is to make it as realistic as possible. Motivating ourselves is an inevitable step that should be taken to avoid conflicts between study and work. The biggest challenge that will be faced is to concentrate on the studies after a day’s work. Work issues will creep into the minds when studying making it impossible to study properly. Work issues for the day have to be settled before studying.

Keeping a track of deadlines and important dates at work, study and family is strongly advised. “Try to plan ahead. If you know a busy time is coming up on your course or at your place of work, plan ahead as much as possible and try to move things around to create a balance.” (Combining Work and Study, 1). Seeking advice and support from the tutor will help to solve problems at study better and will reduce frustration.

Finding time for relaxation can actually boost the quality of time spent for studies or work. Relaxing with the family members and getting their support and care can make studying worriless.

Finally, balancing between study and work or family is a matter of practice than theory. Implementing these theories in life requires great effort. Self motivation and mental strength are the most important requirements to balance study with work and family.

Works Cited

Combining Work and Study . University of Bath Students Union. 2009. Web.

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The Pros, the Cons, and the How-To’s of Work School Balance

By Madeleine on October 23, 2020 |Tagged with: fun , learn outside classroom , Skills for life , Time Management , work

If you’re a university student, you know that you’re learning more than just what’s taught in lecture. You’re learning new skills for your future, as well as gaining experience for life after graduating. One thing that can be really helpful for you is working part time while completing your studies – but that doesn’t make it easy. I know for myself that I had a lot to think about before committing to working while at school and I want to use my experiences to help you decide if working while at school is the right decision for you. I’ve shared a short list of pros and cons below, and some steps on how you can balance your work and school lives at the same time.

PROS of working while attending school:

Working as a student is a great time to start getting work experience. That way when you graduate you already have a resume and some experiences under your belt.
You see each other every week for longer than just 50 minutes, and you have a chance to get to know each other because you’re not constantly taking notes.
Your coworkers become friends, but also references for your work ethic and could lead to new connections.

Madeleine’s experience : One of my supervisors at my previous workplaces became a reliable work friend and later recommended me for a position at his new job. This gave me the opportunity to get a way better position than what I originally had at my old job through his reference!

CONS of working while attending school:

You have to be able to manage an extra commitment without falling behind.
Because you’re adding another commitment, you’re adding another thing that could potentially cause you more stress.

Madeleine’s advice: Evaluate how you’re doing and seek help from resources available to you. I’ll speak more on this below!

HOW TO work and study and do everything else.

1. get organized and start slow.

Balancing your school life and work life isn’t always the easiest task. Don’t try and start with too many things at once. Just because you have free time does not mean you have to fill it up with more things. Start by working less hours than you think you can do, and think about adding more when you’ve figured out how to manage what you already have. Take your first few nights off to get ahead on your tasks for the upcoming week – this will make you feel like you have your life more under control. When you take on more responsibilities, being organized becomes non-negotiable. It may be helpful to plan your weeks in advance so you can make sure you’ve allocated time for every thing you need to get done.

Madeleine’s advice : when planning out time to work on certain tasks, always give yourself 25% more time than you think you will need. So if something unexpected comes up, or it takes longer than you thought, you won’t be panicking to finish up.

2. School comes first

As a student, school should always be your first priority. You need to ask yourself a few questions when managing everything in your life.

Are my grades falling behind?
Do I have the amount of time I NEED for my assignments?
Am I balancing everything, but it’s making me really stressed out?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, it is time to take a step back.

Madeleine’s experience : Last year, I started the term by working 15 hours a week, taking 4 courses, and doing my usual sports and social activities. This worked for me until around mid-October, and then it wasn’t working anymore. I started to cram my assignments, when I normally liked to have them finished days in advance. I started getting 6 or 7 hours of sleep of night, when normally I need 8 or 9 to be my best self. I noticed I was extra tired during the day, and when I went to my field hockey games, I was missing easy shots because I just didn’t have the same amount of energy that I normally did. None of these things were life threatening problems, but I was clearly getting tired and worn out. The best thing I did for myself was cut back my work hours. I talked with my manager and explained that I was in a bit over my head, and she agreed because she had even noticed it. I cut my hours down to 8 a week, and it made all the difference in the world. This was really hard for me to do because it made me feel like I was a quitter, but when I noticed how much more time, and then energy I ended up having, I knew it was the right call.

3. Communicate with your manager

Upon being hired, your manager or direct supervisor should know that you are a student. Personally, I have never had a manager that did not respect my responsibilities as a student – most people want to help you! It is important to let your manager or supervisor know how you are doing, and if you have problems. Tell them how many hours you are able to work, and tell them if this number changes as time goes on.

Be sure to communicate responsibly! When sending a text or email, be as professional as you would if you were in person. It is best to speak with them in person, but if that proves trickier than expected, you should still get your message through to them at least electronically. If you want to discuss something bigger than just a simple question with them, ask if you can schedule a meeting. If you are feeling mentally exhausted or overwhelmed by school and you don’t feel like you can work, speak to your manager about getting your shift covered. Part of being responsible when you communicate, is doing so in advance. If you feel stressed and you don’t think you can work on Friday, don’t tell them Friday morning! Tell them on Monday when you’re planning your week and realize that you have too much to do!

4. Work is a break from school, school is a break from work

Madeleine’s advice : When starting out with working alongside school, I found it to be super helpful to have a job that gave me a break from school. If you’re sitting all day for your classes, then having a job where you’re standing and moving around can be a really good way to get refreshed, and vice versa. Having a job that you can do pretty subconsciously is also a great way to give your brain a break from all the work its doing during your lectures and homework!

5. Don’t let either of these take away from the fun things in your life

For some of you, I know having a part time job is non-negotiable, and for others I know how it can be addicting once you start seeing the paycheques roll in. But in either case, do not let it take over your life. Your body does not have the capacity to go from work to school to work to school in a never-ending cycle. Just like taking rest days when you work out, your brain needs rest time too. You need time to relax and have fun, so that you have energy when its time to get back into it!

Madeleine’s advice : Schedule one evening or afternoon at the very least where you do not do any school or work

6. Resources!

The most important thing to realize when balancing school and work life is that you are not alone. There are thousands of students at UBC and so many of them are experiencing the same feelings as you! Because of this, there are so many resources available to you. First, I will mention that we, the Chapman Learning Commons, have plenty of resources to offer you! We have toolkits designed to help students with common problems like how to manage your time – which is a great resource when balancing school and work! Check it out here !

My personal saviour last year was the UBC SRC (the fitness center). This is a great resource for students on campus, and other gyms not on campus work just as well. Physical activity is a great way to get a good brain break and to get in touch with your body and what it needs from you. Even just a half hour can help you shake up your thoughts, without losing too much time in your day. This is especially important for when you’re super busy between work and assignments because your brain needs that break for it to keep up with your busy schedule. The SRC has lots and lots of classes too that are short and fun! Check them out here !

While there are many great resources available to you out there, the best one is closer than you may realize. Your friends and your family are resources. In my experience, some of my closest friends and family members know me just as well as I know myself, and sometimes even better. Sometimes when you’re trying to manage a lot of different things, your vision can get clouded with projects and deadlines, rather than what you should be doing to take care of yourself. My best friend always finds a way of tricking me into eating when I get extra stressed or anxious, and taking a break and then trying things again on a full stomach usually makes my mind 100 times clearer. Little things like this can make all the difference, and sometimes a friend’s help can go a long way.

I realize that friends and family can’t always be there, and that sometimes there are bigger issues that your best friend can’t really fix. This is why UBC has resources specifically designed to help you. The UBC Wellness Centre is a really great resource for students. It’s important to remember that, yes grades and work are important, but your mental health should always come first. Make sure you stay in touch with how you are.

To Summarize…

Working while at school is a challenge, but hopefully with these tips and tricks it can be less daunting and more manageable. If school / work balance is something that’s new to you, don’t be hard on yourself if it takes some adjusting and getting used to it – I know you’re doing a great job! Remember that you’re giving yourself so many new skills you don’t even know about yet, and you’re learning how push yourself and do more. If work and school is something you’ve been balancing for a little while now, I challenge you to name 3 skills you think that balance has helped you improve. Remember that all these things help you learn and you can only get better!