Studying for a degree can be a demanding activity in and of itself, but when you add employment and university activities to the mix, chaos can ensue. Maintaining control over so many competing obligations at once can be daunting, but you can excel in all three. If you want to study, work, and stay involved in your campus community, you can succeed if you practice self-discipline and schedule your time. Here are some suggestions for balancing employment, school, and student life.

Organization and planning

The first thing you need to do as a student is to organize your time and plan your activities in advance. You need to be organized in class and at work. When it’s time to learn, do it. When it’s time to go to work, avoid activities that may delay you. If you need to volunteer in your student association or sorority, give it a top priority. Make a schedule and set deadlines for all your tasks. Avoid leaving tasks uncompleted as they will take more time later.

Get your priorities right

Another way to balance work, study, and student life is to rank all your activities in order of importance. When preparing your schedules, be realistic and don’t take on more responsibilities than you can handle. When it comes time to work, try to concentrate on the tasks you have to get done and don’t think about other things you need to do so as not to disrupt the flow. Remember that some things you liked to do will have to be sacrificed for the greater good.

Communicate your schedule

It is important to communicate your schedule to those in your inner circle, especially employers. If the people around you know your daily routine, they will likely adapt accordingly to make room for you. In addition, employers will not put more responsibility on your shoulders than you can bear. It is not enough to make a schedule that is known only to you. Without communicating your plans, the expectations of others will always interfere with your plans.

Be time-conscious

Assign a timeframe to every task you undertake and try not to exceed it. It can be difficult at first, but if you stay the course, it will become much easier. Consider choosing a university as close to your workplace as possible, and vice versa. You can get a job first and then look for a good university in the area. And if you are already a student, look for a job in a short distance from your university. More importantly, be mindful of how much time you spend on social media. Social media may have its perks but it is a time killer.

Take time to rest

The life of a student who has a job is very stressful indeed. Doing two or three things at once makes stress inevitable. Therefore, it is important to take some time to relax. Your personal well-being is crucial, and if you don’t give priority to rest, you can break down. The last thing you want is health issues as it will keep you from being productive both at work and at school.

Having a plan and sticking to it is an effective way to balance study, work and student life, but don’t forget to save some time to rest to avoid burnout.