We feel you, working and studying at the same time is tough. We've been there, too, and we want to share some advice on how to avoid the mistakes that are holding you back from the progress you deserve.
1. You don't have a plan.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
No, it doesn’t count if your plan is “to not have a plan”. When it comes to graduating successfully while keeping your job, planning is the first and most important thing you need to do. Start with writing down your goals along with their deadlines on a piece of paper and put it on a visible place e.g. next to your mirror. While this may sound like a cliché to you, it’s been actually proven by neuroscience that you are more likely to reach your goals by doing this simple thing. The secondary stage of planning is breaking your plan regularly into manageable tasks, depending on their scope, such as semestral, weekly and daily tasks. An example of your semestral tasks might be all your assignments’ deadlines, exam dates, and studying materials you need to collect.
Tips:
● Use planner apps and reminders - they really do half of the planning job for you.
Check out Todoist, it’s our favorite!
● Make sure your employer knows in advance if you need to make changes to your work schedule. By doing this, not only you’ll buy yourself precious time to prepare for your assignments and exams, but you’ll also demonstrate how responsible and organized you are (bonus points alert!).
2. You are not productive during your free time.
“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.”
Oh, Laziness… our oldest enemy. When you are studying and working at the same time, it may feel like you have no free time at all. But you do! We’ve also experienced the tempting desire to use the day off to relax or to go out with friends. However, when you are being a student and a worker at the same time, you don’t get the option to procrastinate, sorry (not sorry). We understand that this is easier said than done, but you have to stay focused and keep yourself going. Just remember that you’re not going to be a student forever, after all.
Tips:
● Connect with your student mates and work with them on your assignments. Two (or more) brains always work better than one. And often it’s funnier.
● Hydrate yourself – 8 glasses of water a day will make your body smile on the inside.
● Get sunlight – energy & productivity booster since the Big Bang.
● Get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep a day, every day.
3. You overestimate your abilities.
Know yourself!
Even if you’ve ever managed to study for an exam the night before the deadline, let’s face it - successful people don’t work that way. We agree that such emergency situations may sometimes happen, but you need to bring the possibility of those to the absolute minimum.
Tips:
● We can’t stress this enough - always have a plan and follow it.
● Never sacrifice the quality of your work - give yourself the time that you need. Procrastination is the biggest enemy of success.
● Give yourself a reasonable number of tasks. Execute them one by one. Focus, get the job done, then refocus on the next.
At the end of the day, just remember – it won’t be like this forever. Keep your eyes on graduating. You can do it! 😉
