Making the work-study balance possible

STUDYING for a degree while being employed can be intimidating, considering that both activities are demanding in themselves. Still, working and studying at the same time has become a norm in today’s reality, with numerous universities offering part-time programmes on campus and online for working adults who wish to gain more knowledge while keeping their present jobs.

Although you might spend less time with your family, friends or even on yourself, leading a workstudy life can be beneficial in the long run as the new set of skills you have developed from your studies will be useful for your current or future career path, not to mention the personal growth you will gain throughout the experience.

If you have opted to do these two things together, here are a few tips you can try to ensure a balanced and worthwhile workstudy period. Manage your time Start by keeping a schedule that incorporates your work, studies and social life. Especially helpful is when you set your activities in tandem with your major deadlines and assessments – allocate less time on social engagements in order for you to focus better on completing your assignments or preparing for your exams.

It is important to balance out the aforementioned aspects in your schedule so that you are able to stay on top of your progress in your work and studies, as well as maintain a healthy relationship with your family and friends. Utilise technology Technology can do wonders when we are able to use them to the fullest. In this case, consider setting your schedules, keeping softcopies of your study notes or saving audio fi les related to your studies in your mobile devices. It gives you easier accessibility to look through them during your free time at work since the information you need is at your fi ngertips and you won’t need to carry too many items with you at all times. Take care of yourself Working and studying at the same time requires an immense amount of focus and energy, consequently taking a toll on your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. As such, take a break to decompress through relaxation and play so that you are recharged and refreshed by the time you return to your routine.

Within your routine itself, you can maintain consistency with your energy and focus levels by eating right, exercising regularly and getting enough quality sleep.

Remind yourself of your goals

When keeping up with your hectic work- study lifestyle becomes a lot more of a hassle, remind yourself why you have decided to pursue your studies while working in the first place.

Be it improving your skill sets for your current job or gaining new knowledge for a new field, committing yourself to your end goals not only strengthens your self- discipline and time management, but also makes you appreciate yourself better in enduring your present hardship and celebrating your future achievement.

This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan ZamanMansang(Azam)Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.