4 Simple Ways You Can Balance Work And School

By Kibet Tobias
“How can I best balance going back to school and work a full-time job? Should I quit my job for studies or is there a way that I can excel in both areas?’’ Asks Carol via email.
Balancing work and education isn’t always easy. I have been there and I know. When you are a student you have to deal with lectures, assignments, homework and even extracurricular activities. At the end of the day, you just want to relax and chill with a movie.
Being an employee, on the other hand, means you have to ensure work is done smoothly on time without compromise.
Is quitting your job to concentrate on your studies the option? Some people opt for it but it is still possible to work a full time job and still attend classes.
Here are the top 4 tips for balancing work and studies full-time successfully.
1. You have to plan ahead
Maybe you are a student and you consider getting a job. Before you make any step, think about how you are going to handle your work and schoolwork. Will that job work best for your schedule and skills? How will you manage your time to make both works for you?
Write down all of your priorities and the amount of time both will demand from you each day or week. Now, look at the amount of time you can dedicate to work. Remember this will require discipline.
Also talk to a mentor, friend or parent about it. This will help you get a big picture of how to balance the two.
2. You need to set personal goals
Ask yourself what you want to achieve in the end.  Will it help you anyway? How long will it take you to finish the course? Did you do enough research about the course you want to study?
Having clear goals will help you overcome any challenge you may encounter during the day. It also enables you to have realistic expectations about what you can achieve after school.
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3. Don’t commit to working a lot of hours immediately
Your work schedule should effectively work for you. In most cases, school comes first and luckily there are a lot of part-time jobs that can do good to a busy schedule like yours.
So find a job that’s flexible for you. For my case, working for a restaurant whiles a student was the best thing because it offered different shifts to select from. Overdoing it will lead to burn out which you don’t want to experience.
Instead choose a few shifts until you’re comfortable to handle more hours.
Fortunately, there are employers who offer flexibility to those employees who are pursuing education. You can take advantage of this option it is available for you.
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4. Consider taking up flexible classes
If you want to do a postgraduate course, most universities today offer programs for evening or weekend studies. Others also have an option of distance or e-learning.
Such options are designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals like you. You can consider choosing these options if you have a tight work schedule.
In conclusion
Clearly balancing work and studies is a bit tricky but it requires your effort, patience, and responsibility. Remember the good thing about working while you’re studying is that once you graduate you will have relevant job experience to showcase on your CV. This will put you in a great position of easily getting hired.
Tobias is a writer at Career Point Kenya. Email tobias@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke