Are you in college and yearn to combine work and studies? This article will give you tips on how to do it and have perfect results for both. Taking studies and work has become a common habit currently especially for college and post-graduate students.
Most students look for part-time jobs to help them earn some upkeep. A part-time job boosts your work experience and gives you a competitive advantage in your career field after school.
Despite having some extra work to do and earn besides learning, students should know that education is more important during this period. You should strive to balance academic requirements such as writing exams, completing homework, and writing research paper assignments, and hustle.
Below are tips to help you combine work and learning
- Draw a schedule
You should have a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule that guides your activities. Fix all your activities in the schedule and follow up to avoid confusion. Ensure the time for learning and work is balanced.
- Stay organized
To succeed in both work and learning, you must have good organizational skills. Know your deadlines for coursework writing and for the job. Ensure you deliver quality results on time to avoid last-minute pressure.
- Find a connection
It is much easier to work in the field of your study as you learn. For example, working in the social work sector when studying community development, you can relate practice class theory with work. You may find that some job tasks are related to your coursework. This makes it simple to manage academic work.
- Improve effectiveness
Juggling work and learning require you to have maximum effectiveness and time management skill. You need to plan your time effectively to accomplish work and academic requirements.
- Support network
A student cohort is relevant in this case. You will need to make consultations on things you do not understand. You will also need a business team to support you with tasks you have inadequate understanding and experience. After a long week of swindling with work and studies, you need your colleagues to have fun and relax.
- Set achievable goals
No matter how hard you roll yourself between work and study, failure to set goals renders your hard work unsuccessful. Setting goals gives your strive a direction of purpose.
Ensure you set SMART GOALS. This means they should be; Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and time-bound.
- Work breakdown
To work and learn at the same time may not be as simple as it sounds. You have a lot to accomplish and you should understand what to do. Group the work into segments then allocate each segment a specific time.
It is easier to handle work when divided into segments. For example, handle learning in units or topics. Have targets for each working day to accomplish specific job roles.
- Utilize free time
Avoid wasting your free time. You can use that time to read through a few pages or complete a project or assignment. You can also use breaks and free time to do a piece of your work. Free time or commute time can help cover tasks with limited deadlines. Here are tips to help you utilize commute time;
- Save study materials in portal devices such as flash – this you can retrieve easily during breaks
- Download an audio version of reading material that you can listen to when not busy at work
- Read your notes aloud and record your voice so you can listen as you walk around during commute
- Record your lecturers as they teach. Listen to these audios when you are free from work
Multitasking in this case is only possible when you are engaged in non-brain activities. These tasks include routine manual work such as cleaning your work area.
Sacrifice means forgoing some habitual activities that are not necessary. Instead, use that time to do something that contributes to achieving your goals.
For example, instead of watching movies, use that time to study. Rather than spending 30 minutes on social media, use it to evaluate your work progress
- Update your employer
If you are a part-time employee; let your employer know that you are a student. Inform them about your study schedule. Inform them how you will make up for time spent away from work.
Request for days off in advance when you have to sit for exams or anything that disrupt you from work. For example, if your work is online writing, inform the respective platform’s management that you will not be able to write for several days.
Combining work and learning can be challenging, but possible for a person who is willing to apply the above tips. Strategic time management, dedication, and sacrifice are some of the most important tactics to succeed.