Before coming into college, I was fortunate enough to have a job that allowed me to transfer swiftly into a new location in Tallahassee. Little did I know, managing my time with college courses would be a whole new level of challenging, compared to my previous high-school life. After being here for two years, I've figured out some strategies to help balance my lifestyle and even have some extra time for leisure.
Don't work too many hours.
I get it, you have to pay rent and afford a weekly Chic-Fil-A meal sometimes. But putting too much pressure on working, while already dealing with pounds of homework, will take a toll on your mind. I try to stick to a solid 25-30 hour week normally which sets me well-off with the amount of money I need for my daily expenses.
Plan classes accordingly.
This is definitely one of the most important tricks, in my opinion. Since my first semester, I have managed to plan all of my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that the rest of my week would be open to working. Sometimes it can be a struggle to find classes that line up this perfectly, but when they do, it really gives you the perfect amount of free time. Even one or two classes on Monday would still give you enough time to get those hours in.
Talk to your managers.
This might be self-explanatory, but most managers in college cities know that you are here for school. Your main priority should always be school, and they usually are very nice about this. Just sitting down with them after a shift and explaining your school schedule can really help, as they will be able to give you time off when you need to study or have exams. If not, maybe the job isn't a great place to work anyways!
Ask coworkers for help
In most cases, your co-workers will be in the same position as you and understand the chaos of working and studying. If you need extra time to make up homework, don't be afraid to reach out for help! This is what they are here for. Let your co-workers pick up any shifts you don't need and pick up theirs in return if needed. And an extra bonus, this will help to build healthy relationships in your workplace!
Work mornings.
Another trick in my book is to simply work mornings, and then have the rest of the evening to focus on classes. This way, you can split the day evenly and manage to get multiple things done and stay productive! The key is to not get distracted and end up on Youtube for five hours straight, otherwise, this method might not work for you!
Don't stress.
I can't stress this enough! (bad pun, sorry) People will be understanding that your schedule can feel a little flustered and chaotic, but you need to just remember to breathe and relax. Sometimes, my mind at work is such a whirlwind of things I need to do, that I lose focus on the actual job itself. Just realize that you can do whatever you need to do, once you get home and it'll be perfectly fine. If it is really is too much, ask them to lower your hours!
I wish there was a way to simplify the balance between school and work, it's almost like working two jobs! But just remember, having a job holds you very accountable for yourself and it's great to have on your resume anyway! Finding the perfect alignment of your classes and your schedule will set you into a routine, and you'll get used to it, I promise.
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