Many students have to work alongside their studies to make ends meet. It can be challenging juggling a job and a marketing course, and it requires effective prioritisation and planning. This post offers five top tips for studying whilst working to help you manage your busy workload.

1. Create a schedule

Planning is vital when it comes to time management. Creating a schedule will help you feel in control of your work, studies and life while reducing stress and boosting productivity. At the start of each semester, term or module, ensure you have all the key dates in your diary, including exams and assignment deadlines. Create a schedule each week, including all your working shifts and any classes you need to attend. Plan time each week into your schedule for studying to ensure you stay on top of your workload.

Don’t leave assignments to the last minute. This will create unnecessary stress and potentially impact not only your grades but your ability to carry out tasks at work effectively.

There are different tools you can use to help you plan your schedule. While some people prefer to use a diary or plan a schedule on paper, others prefer dedicated scheduling apps or spreadsheets.

2. Communicate with your employer

Good employers are supportive of people who want to further their personal and professional development through education. Let your employer know you are starting a new course and see if they are able to offer any flexibility in your working hours, especially around key dates such as exams and important projects. It can be a good idea to book annual leave around critical dates like these as soon as you receive your termly schedule to ensure you have plenty of time to focus when it’s needed the most.

3. Utilise your time effectively

Trying to balance work and study, alongside other commitments in your life, can put enormous pressure on your time. However, by learning to utilise your time as effectively as possible, you can get more done and free up time for yourself.

Instead of multitasking, try using the ‘task stacking’ method. This involves combining tasks that can be done together without one stealing energy or focus from the other. An excellent example of this would be to use the time you spend commuting to work or place of study to get some essential reading done. If you are driving or walking, you could listen to audiobooks instead. Ensure you always have something productive, so you don’t waste time fragments. This could be a book to read when waiting for a friend or a scheduling app on your phone, so you can do some planning while waiting for an appointment, for example.

Other ways of saving time include meal prepping for several days at a time or delegating tasks to other members of your family. Treat your time like the precious commodity it is; learn to say no to people when needed. Getting into good habits with your time and how you use it can save you many wasted hours each week.

4. Take advantage of technology

Technology can help you improve your planning and productivity. Embracing technology can save you a lot of time. There are lots of software tools and apps designed to make studying easier. These include programs for data analysis, note-taking and referencing. Get confident using office software such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel. The better your knowledge of these tools and their productivity features, the more time you can save when completing assignments.

The right tools and technologies for you will depend on the course you are studying, so do some research and ask your tutors and classmates for recommendations if needed.

5. Make time for self-care

It’s essential to take care of yourself when juggling a busy schedule. Making the effort for self-care can help to reduce the build-up of stress and prevent overwhelm, while protecting your health and ensuring you’re in the best shape to juggle your busy schedule.

When it comes to your physical health, try to make time for exercise, eat as healthily as possible and get enough sleep. This will help to maximise the energy you have to tackle your busy schedule. Look after your mental well-being by taking regular breaks and scheduling activities that help you relax and feel good. Self-care will look different for everyone, but some examples are meditation, reading fiction, watching TV, yoga, family time, or a long soak in the bath – whatever works for you!

Studying alongside a full or part-time job is achievable for anyone, provided you’re smart about how you use your time. Follow these tips to help you get the most productivity out of your time while ensuring time for yourself too!

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