How to balance work and college: 6 success tips

You can absolutely further your education while remaining effective at your job, especially if you make use of these tips.

1. Carve out dedicated time for school

Busy professionals are used to putting their jobs and family obligations first. Those should absolutely remain top priorities for working students, but school should also become one of your primary concerns. One of the best ways to do this is to set aside plenty of dedicated time for schoolwork, whether it’s after dinner every weeknight or longer blocks of time during the weekend.

Adopting to a new way of prioritizing your time can feel like a big change, but the effort could very well pay off. One recent study involving undergraduate students suggests that a learner’s ability to personally adjust is one of the greatest predictors of academic success. You may just have to say no to a few events and social functions while you complete your degree.

2. Keep a detailed schedule

When it comes to keeping track of everything related to school and work, it’s in your best interest to combine all deadlines, meetings, and other notable events for both school and work in one schedule. Better yet, include all of your personal appointments and other obligations as well. Making note of all important milestones in one master calendar can go a long way toward keeping yourself organized — and it helps to ensure you don’t accidentally double-book yourself.

While some students like physical calendars, consider embracing digital options to ensure you have access from anywhere. And once you have a detailed schedule, set some reminders for yourself. An extra phone notification or two could be really helpful during especially busy weeks.

3. Embrace alternative learning formats

Fortunately, it’s no longer necessary for students to take classes throughout the day at a physical campus. Today’s students have a bevy of options when it comes to program formats. Those who crave in-person interaction, for instance, can attend night classes at certain institutions.

Fully online programs are another appealing option. This format is particularly useful for students who need as much flexibility as possible, such as working parents. Learners enrolled in an online program are able to complete their coursework wherever and whenever is most convenient for them.

Some schools also have unique options that may fit especially well with your learning style. For example, Bellevue University offers accelerated cohort programs that allow you to advance toward your degree one course at a time with the same highly collaborative group of students. Those who thrive in this type of environment can spend less time adjusting to life as a student and more time on what really matters. There’s also the added benefit of forming close relationships with classmates who can share their own advice for balancing work and school.

4. Rely on your existing support network

There’s a good chance your friends and family are eager to support you however they can, so let them know what you need. You might, for instance, tell your partner that an upcoming assignment is going to limit your availability around dinner time. Or perhaps you can ask a close friend to watch your children for a few hours while you write a research paper.

Also remember that your support network can also include those you work with. Many organizations encourage professional development and are happy to let employees adjust their schedules here and there. The key is to be honest and upfront with your manager.

Another reason to tell your employer about your plan to pursue a degree? Your organization may offer education benefits, such as tuition assistance. University-corporate partnerships intended to make obtaining education easier and affordable are more common than you might expect. Bellevue University, for example, has relationships with more than 75 corporations.

5. Ask for help when you need it

If you ever find yourself facing a few school-related difficulties, seek assistance as soon as possible. That may involve reaching out to instructors to gain clarification on assignments, leveraging available tutoring services, accessing technical support, or attending appointments to improve writing skills. Being proactive about getting the help you need can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run.

It’s also common to need a bit of help overcoming challenges that aren’t tied specifically to academics, such as navigating financial aid, identifying remaining degree requirements, and registering for classes. While every school will have staff you can reach out to for these types of questions, Bellevue University makes gathering this kind of information easier by assigning a dedicated academic advisor, called a student coach, to every incoming student. This person will be your go-to to meet your goals and deal with anything that might get in the way.

Engaging with academic advising can play a significant role in helping you stay on top of your schoolwork. Recent research suggests that students who meet with their academic advisors are more likely to persist in their studies.

6. Maintain clear boundaries

The lines between your school, work, and personal life can start to blur when you’re trying to manage everything. But it can leave you feeling burned out after a while. One simple way to maintain boundaries is to leverage what Dr. Calvin Newport, an author and professor, calls a “shutdown ritual.” The basic idea is that you perform some action or series of steps that clearly define the end of your day. While he speaks about these actions as they relate to work, they’re equally as effective for ending a school session.

As for your own shutdown ritual, it could be something as simple as closing your laptop or turning off school-related email notifications on your phone. It can even be engaging in some form of exercise. Just be sure that you’re firm about officially ending your day — when it’s time to start again, you can pick up where you left off next time.

Enlisting the above tips can really help you master how to balance work and college in the way that makes sense for you. While every student is different, many adult learners find the flexibility and convenience that online programs offer is key to their success.

If you’d like to further explore the possibility of completing a degree from a remote setting, you’ll want to identify options that provide the support and practical education you need. Bellevue University, for instance, offers more than over 85 career-focused online programs as well as an array of helpful resources. Find out what additional elements to look for in a school by reading our article “How to find the best online colleges for working adults.”