Working is rarely easy but it is considerably harder when you throw studying into the equation. Similarly, studying is significantly more difficult when you also have a job to go to. Suddenly your days slaving away back at school don’t seem so bad because when you get home at the end of the day you can just switch off and relax. Now you’re finding yourself in a scenario where you spend all day sitting at your desk working only to come home and carry on exerting your brain-power. So, how do you cope with this additional stress without having a full on breakdown? Lucky for you, we have a few pointers to help you deal with the devilish combination that is working and studying.
1. Be Organised
If you are trying to fit working and studying into your life then the single most important thing to do is be organised. If you know you are going to get home from work at around 6pm each day then make yourself a schedule for how you will spend the few hours you have at your disposal in the evenings. Ideally you want to make sure you have time for a couple of hours of studying as well as an hour or so for a nice, healthy dinner.
2. Stay Healthy
It is very easy to let your work and study routine consume all of your time but you will very quickly notice that this is not a sustainable way to live. Make sure you get enough sleep and take the time to cook yourself nutritious meals in the evenings. Fish is a great choice as it is rich in Omega 3, which has been proven to improve cognitive function. You should also make sure you have enough time to get some exercise. Half an hour a day of jogging or working out will not only make you feel better physically, but it will also do wonders for your mental state.
3. Tell Your Boss
If you are taking a professional qualification in your spare time this shows great initiative and if you have a good boss they will be supportive of this. Tell your boss exactly what’s going on and you might find that they go a bit easier on you until you finish the course. The last thing you need while your trying to work and study is your boss giving you grief because you’re not working as hard as you could be.
4. Work Smart
Unlike when you were back at school, when you do a professional qualification whilst working, you will find that your study time has dramatically decreased. This means you don’t have time to waste reading and learning unnecessary information. Take a good look at your syllabus and work out exactly what you need to learn for each exam or assignment. By narrowing your focus you will be able to concentrate your energy better on the information that will actually help you.
5. Go out
Just because you have a lot on your plate doesn’t mean you can’t have a social life. Sure you might not be able to go for drinks every night but you should definitely give yourself Friday or Saturday night off or you might end up going crazy. Spend at least one evening a week hanging out with friends or doing something completely unrelated to your studies. Your brain needs this time to rest!
