Balancing Work and School: Tips for Working Students

About 70% of college students work while enrolled. Some may work part-time or freelance jobs while others work full-time and go to school at night. Regardless, this is a huge undertaking — it's like having two jobs. 

Are you a working student? If so, you may be struggling to find a balance between work and school. We've been there.

We're here to talk all about the importance of balance, what balance looks like in practice, and how to find yours. Read on to learn more. 

The Importance of a Work-Life Balance

Having a decent work-life balance is crucial during any stage of life, but it's especially important while you're a college student. You're likely under a lot of stress, you're always learning new things, and you're in one of the last fully-social environments you'll be in for a while. 

Work and school are only two things you need to balance. Whether you're a full-time student or a part-time student, you'll also need to be networking and potentially even doing internships if you want to get ahead in your future career.

On top of all of that, you need to maintain some level of peace. To be successful, you need to avoid overburdening yourself. If you don't establish a good work-life balance (and in this case, "work" consists of both schoolwork and your job), you're going to get burnt out. 

College burnout is a real issue, and not enough people take it seriously. It can have an impact on your physical and mental health.

If you experience burnout, you may also start to experience feelings of anxiety and depression. You may lose motivation and struggle to get enough sleep or even take care of yourself. 

Maintaining a good work-life balance is a challenge, but it's a worthwhile one. 

How Do You Know You've Established a Good Balance? 

So how do you know if you've established a good balance? 

If you're maintaining a good work-life balance, you should feel relatively comfortable. You may experience stress (that's normal during college, of course), but it shouldn't feel overwhelming. The thought of going to work or school shouldn't fill you with dread. 

You should have time to see friends and engage in enjoyable activities. You should be getting a reasonable amount of sleep and you should be able to exercise and eat healthy means because you have the time to do so. 

You should also be able to maintain your grades to the best of your ability. You may not be a straight-A student, but you're doing well enough to pass your classes and you're retaining information. You can find time to do all of your homework and you're not falling behind. 

At work, you may be tired, but you shouldn't be falling asleep on the job. You don't feel a pang of anxiety any time you get a work-related email or phone call. Work may not be pleasant, but it's not harming your mental health. 

You're able to make space for everything in your life without one thing taking over or encroaching into a space in which it doesn't belong. 

If all of these things are true, you may have already established a good balance. If not, here are a few tips that can help. 

Use a Planner

If you don't already use some kind of planner, it's time to start. Some people get by fine without actual planners, but they can seriously help you stay organized and on-task. 

When you use a planner, you're letting your brain do less work. Instead of trying to store your schedule in your brain and remember everything, you're storing it on your phone, in your laptop, or in a physical planner. 

You're able to visualize your time and you'll know if things are overlapping. You should never be double-booked because if you check your planner, you'll know what you do and don't have time for.

We recommend using a physical planner if possible. While digital planners are easier to keep, physical planners are often more effective. Writing things down helps you remember them better!

A planner may not change your life, but it will help you organize your time to make sure you're doing everything on your to-do list. 

Set Boundaries 

Boundaries are essential for every part of life, and this is no exception. You need boundaries in your personal life, in your workplace, and with yourself if you want to maintain a good balance. 

Let's talk about work boundaries first.

When you make your schedule for work (or when you submit your time request), be clear about when you are and are not available. Some employers may try to schedule you during a time outside of your availability, and that will not work while you're a working student. 

It's tempting to go with whatever the boss wants, but this would be setting poor boundaries. If you know you need that time off to study for a test, do a research project, or anything else, you are allowed to have it. Part-time work is supposed to be flexible. 

Don't respond to work calls, texts, or emails when you're not on the clock. That's your personal time. You're not obligated to respond when you're not at work.

In your personal life, start getting more comfortable with leaving social obligations early when necessary. Get ready to say "no" to things that you don't want to do (and some things you do want to do, unfortunately). 

If your friends are students, they'll understand. 

Give yourself time limits for things. Commit to only doing schoolwork within specific blocks of time and then taking a break. This is a good boundary to have with yourself. 

Commit to Getting Plenty of Sleep

When you're a working student, you may feel like there's no time to sleep. Who has time to sleep when there's an essay due on Friday, homework due on Wednesday, a research project due on Tuesday, and work every night between Monday and Sunday? 

It's true that your sleep may be more limited than it should be, but you need to get as much sleep as possible. Aim to get a minimum of 6 hours of sleep every night (preferably 7 to 9, but that can be challenging). If you're not functioning well, add more sleep.

Not getting enough sleep will slow you down further. You'll have a harder time focusing on work and school. Your schoolwork will suffer and work will be more unpleasant. 

Sleep is vital. You'll feel calmer and happier (as well as more focused and productive) when you're getting enough sleep for your brain to function. 

Don't try to replace sleep with coffee or energy drinks, either. Yes, caffeine can be helpful, but it's not a replacement for a full night of rest. 

Communicate With Your Professors

Your professors are there to help you, and they understand that many of their students are working (sometimes two jobs), balancing families, and struggling with other classes. While your professor may assign a lot of work, and they may even seem strict, they'll likely be willing to work with you if you ask. 

Many professors are also in school themselves. Some may be working on research projects, thesis projects, and more. If your professor is an adjunct, they may also have another job that they're balancing. 

If you're falling behind, go to your professor's office hours. Talk to them about how you're feeling and see if they have any advice to offer. In some cases, they may be able to offer extensions on large projects as long as you don't over-use that privilege and you're willing to show that you're working hard on it. 

Not all professors will be able to help, but it never hurts to ask. The worst thing they can say is "no." 

Create a Designated Study Space

Having a designated study space is a game-changer when it comes to balancing work, school, and life. When you sit in your study space, you know you're officially in "school mode" and you can put everything else to the side.

If you work from home, make sure your study space and your work space are different. Even if that means you study at the library, at a coffee shop, or even just at a different table in your home, you want some kind of distinction between spaces. 

Put everything you need within arm's reach so you don't have to get up and wander away. Keep your distractions away from you. Turn your phone on "Do Not Distract" mode until you're ready to take a break. 

You'd be surprised at how much of an impact your environment has on your mindset. If you're able to set your brain to "school mode," you'll get far more done and you won't feel as overburdened by your other responsibilities while you're working. 

Ask for Help When Necessary  

Never be afraid to ask for help. 

As we mentioned before, you can ask your professors for help, extra time, and even advice (within reason). Not every professor will be able or willing to help you, but many of them are more flexible than you'd think. 

If you have roommates that you're on good terms with, consider asking them for help around the house during particularly busy weeks. Perhaps you set extra quiet hours so you can study, or they can pick up a bit of the slack when it comes to housework.

Remember that if they do that for you, you should do that for them when they're feeling overwhelmed. 

You can ask your boss for less hours or a less stressful role if one is available. They may say no, but again, that's likely the worst thing that can happen. 

Ask your friends to keep you on track or invite them for a study group instead of a standard social gathering. Your friends want you to succeed, so they'll likely be happy to comply. 

Talk to Your Advisor

Many students don't take advantage of having access to advisors. Advisors can be so helpful, and they can also connect you with career services and communicate with your professors. 

If you know you're drowning in work, make an appointment with your advisor to see what they have to say. They may be able to help you make a schedule for your next semester that's less overwhelming, but still productive. They may also be able to connect you with career services to see if there's a more suitable and less stressful job available for you.

For example, many colleges have plenty of on-campus jobs available for students that tend to work better for student schedules. 

Don't Forget Self-Care 

Look, we get it. When you're balancing work and school, self-care goes out the window. You need to make time for it.

If you're not taking good care of yourself, you're going to struggle more. You'll feel more overwhelmed and less capable. You may burn out enough that you need to take a break from school or work altogether.

Make time every day for something enjoyable, even if it's small. That could mean buying yourself your favorite snack, taking a nice bath, playing a game, or anything else that makes you feel calm and happy. 

Save Money When Possible 

The more money you spend, the more you have to work. College is expensive, but there are a few ways to save money so you can slow down at work. 

Keep applying for grants and scholarships, even if you're not in your first year. You may be able to get a bit of tuition money which will help you take on fewer hours.

Spend money on yourself, but be smart about it. Don't go out every night, order takeout, or buy luxury items if you're not prepared to work more. Treat yourself, but be reasonable. 

You deserve to spend your hard-earned money, but remember that the more you spend, the more you have to earn. 

Balancing Work and School Is Tough

No one ever said that balancing work and school would be easy, but millions of students do it. It will all be worth it after you graduate, but it's likely hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

Use these tips to help you maintain some sort of reasonable balance as a working student. 

Are you interested in new opportunities? Are you an ambitious student? We'd love to connect with you.

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