By Sanjea Taylor, Contributing Writer
Many students struggle to manage the numerous tasks required for school alongside the responsibilities of their jobs. This can have a major influence on students, leading to feelings of stress and exhaustion.
Balancing work and school can be challenging, especially while trying to make time for personal priorities such as rest, family, and friends.
Luckily, there are strategies to help students create a healthier school-work balance. With the right strategies, student workers can achieve this balance while protecting their mental well-being.
Time management
By effectively managing your time, you can allocate various periods of time for work, classes, and any other things you may want to do.
“Usually, I will do my schoolwork after work or on days that I have the most time.” said Katherine Enriquez, a sophomore business management major, and a front desk student worker at the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library at the University Campus.
With proper time management, you can also make space for personal relaxation and self-care.
Dividing workloads into manageable sections, rather than tackling everything at once, makes tasks more approachable and less stressful.
“Sometimes I struggle with some assignments, and I have to divide my time up equally,” Enriquez added.
Have a schedule and stick to it
Having a proper schedule—and sticking to it—can help you make the most of your day while effectively managing school and work tasks.
Unforeseen circumstances may arise, but building in extra time between tasks can make it easier to handle unexpected situations.
“I make my schedule so that I do not have work back-to-back with my class. I can catch up on homework and do other stuff. I have plenty of time,” said Malik Mazili, a freshman majoring in business administration and a student worker at the front desk of the Wellness Center.
Know your work environment
Some jobs on campus allow students to catch up on homework and studies while on the job. By understanding your work environment, you can determine whether completing school assignments during work hours is allowed.
“Here, it’s pretty calm, so while we are in the office, we’re allowed to do homework, and after I get off from work, I usually take an hour to go sit somewhere and finish some more work,” said Gianna Oquendo, a freshman majoring in elementary education and an office assistant for Student Affairs.
Stay organized
As students, our minds can easily become cluttered with many responsibilities at once. Staying organized helps you focus on one task at a time.
Using calendars and to-do lists can help prioritize what needs immediate attention, allowing you to complete tasks without feeling overwhelmed by everything at once.
“I set a lot of calendars. I have to stay on top of things and stay very organized,” said Macy Coley, a sophomore biomedical major and student worker for the Stephen Herrmann Mail Center.
Adopting these strategies can support a healthy school-work balance while navigating your college journey.
