Balancing Work and School

Balancing work and school is something that many of us have to do at some time in our lives, either as students in our late teens or later in life if we decide to go back into education. It can sometimes be a struggle to get the right balance of work and school, but it is manageable as long as you're organised. Read on to find out more about balancing work and school.

Prioritise

First of all, it really helps if you are able to prioritise. Which is the most important to you, work or school? If you're in education then it's likely that you're there to achieve a goal that will benefit you more in the long run, so this should probably be your priority. However, when you're at work you should make sure you're fully committed; keeping on top of school deadlines should help you focus more when you're actually at work.

Look for Flexible Work

Looking for flexible work can also help. For instance, many students look for leisure jobs or retail jobs as these often offer flexible shifts that you can fit around your school work. It's also likely that you'll need to look for part time work as a student or else you won't have time to fit everything in. This can help you to tailor your job search: looking for part time jobs in London and other locations helps you to focus on what you need while also giving you a starting point.

Be up Front About Commitments

It's also worth being up front about your commitments as this will help you prioritise what you need to do and also enable you to make alterations to your schedule as necessary. For instance, if you have an upcoming deadline that you know you'll need extra time to work on, don't leave it until the week before to inform your boss. Make sure they know well in advance as they'll be more able to accommodate you this way. Many employers are willing to be flexible while their staff are in school, but they can't help you if they don't know you need it.

Plan Ahead

Finally, plan ahead. It might not be very fun to plan out your schedule weeks in advance, but when you're balancing school work with shifts at your job and a social life, a little organisation wouldn't go amiss. Just try and keep your eyes on the prize - you're doing this for a purpose, and it should certainly pay off in the long run.

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