Balancing work and school can be challenging but achievable with intentional planning and healthy habits.
Have clear priorities. Similar to the time management post, know what your priorities are and what is most important to you.
Something I’ve always heard about priorities is that school should always come first, followed by sports and then work.
School First
- You get a higher education to succeed and pursue a career you’ll feel satisfied with.
- School can be a lot of money, so getting the most out of your dollars and time is important. Most colleges set you up for success, and the people there, like professors and advisors, care about you.
- Go to class, be involved, do your work, and put time into the classes you enjoy.
- That means you do have to think about what you’re passionate about in school, but once you find it, it should be enjoyable.
Sports Second
I talk more about athletics in the School and Athletics post
However, sports should come second because that’s why you might be in college.
If you are there to play sports, your coaches know you are a student first and an athlete second. They expect you to excel in your classes to be eligible to play. Your professors know you must be eligible, so they expect you to work in class.
Job/Work Third
Working while attending college may be difficult, but finding a job that fits your schedule is important.
- Do your research and find something that interests you or something you know will work into your schedule.
- Be open to anything. Finding something that aligns with your career interests may be difficult, especially if you’re a first-year student.
- Once you have a job, communicate with your boss about your schedule and make them aware that it could change.
- If a job doesn’t work out, it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty more options out there that may align better with your life.
Life
Remember to set time aside for yourself and practice self-care often. Know that it’s ok to make mistakes and learn from them. Allow yourself to improve, and know that balancing everything will take time. Life will be much easier once you get the hang of it.
Make sure you actively try to enjoy every day and realize life is not perfect and will sometimes be messy. Notice the little things, and don’t take anything for granted because you’ll be an adult one day dealing with the real world.