To balance work and study at the same time can be a very difficult thing to do. Even though studying while working is commonplace, it is also something that can put stress on a person if not done right.
Whatever the reason you need to study and work, you’re likely to need a good plan to get you through. Although the thought of balancing work and study may seem overwhelming, it can be achievable with some planning and self-discipline.
I have listed the following tips to show the best ways to balance work and study:
1) Create a study space
There are so many things to do at home, from watching your favourite TV show to cleaning the floors, it’s easy to get distracted. You need a space where you can slip away and focus solely on your studies, whether that be a whole room, or a corner in your bedroom.
Once you have selected your study, here’s what you need to do:
Get inspired – Fill your study space with inspiration! Put up quotes and images to remind you of your goals.
Keep everything together – Keep everything to do with your course in your study area. This ensures you won’t waste time looking for things.
Surround yourself with learning – Put up your schedule, as well as key study notes to immerse yourself in learning.
Dedicated study time – When you are in your study space you are off limits, so turn off your phone and put up a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign.
2) Plan your life
In order to make sure you have time for everything, you need a plan which aims at balance.
Plan – Look at your course and work out when you want to complete each study period. Be realistic about when you think you can have work completed.
Organise – Use a wall calendar to work out when you will need to have readings and assignments done. Leave a time buffer in case emergencies arise.
Balance – Enter any family, work and personal commitments into the calendar. That way you know what is coming up and you can plan your study around it.
Once you have your schedule, spend ten minutes each week to plan your weekly study sessions. Also, look for small slots of time where you would usually not do much, like travelling to work on the bus, and plan to use those times to read.
3) Break study into small sized chunks
To keep our brains performing at peak it’s best to study for 50 minutes, then take a 10 minute break. Having short study sessions every day or every few days ensures that the material remains fresh in your mind, and gives you time to consider what you are learning.
Set goals – Know what you want to have achieved at the end of each study session and use your allocated time to work towards that goal. This will keep you focused and cut down on procrastination.
Prioritise tasks – Prioritise your tasks, start bigger assignments earlier. Give yourself time to digest what you are learning.
4) Keep healthy
It’s easy when we are busy to cut out exercise and increase our intake of fast food, but it is at these times when we most need to be healthy. To perform at your peak, stick to a healthy eating plan and get a little exercise each day. Still not convinced? Check out the list below for some motivation!
Exercise
Exercise boosts chemicals in our brains which help us to deal with stress. It also releases endorphins which make us happy and reduce anxiety. Cardiovascular workouts can even help create new brain cells and improve overall brain performance!
Food
You brain consumes around 20% of your total kilojoule intake daily! Feeding it with the right foods like fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrain breads and cereals will help with concentration, memory and mood.
5) Reward yourself
It is important to reward yourself when you meet your goals, it keeps you motivated and gives you something to look forward to. Take yourself out for breakfast, go for a cliff walk, or buy that shirt you have been eyeing off. You deserve it!
