What are some tips to balance School and a Job?

Question

I am starting a new job tomorrow, with weird hours. The weird hours will be n my benefit because it will allow me to attend school during the day. I will be taking my required classes first to become a Nurse, so it will take me a few years.

Are there any tips on being able to balance school a few days a week, and a job with 30+ hours a week?

Answer 1

I've been in your position, and the best advice I can give is to be super-organized.  I literally planned every half-hour of my day for a couple years.  I made sure I had my work hours and class hours in my planner; but I also included time for study, time for exercise (believe me, you will need it because it gets stressful); time for family/friends; time for sleep; time for recreation.  It easily became a habit after a week or so.  It will make you aware of how precious your time is.

Answer 2

I go to school full-time and work about 30hrs/wk. I have been doing so for over 3 years now. I definitely have a few tips:

1. Sit down, plan, and reserve time to study/do assignments. I am assuming studying to become a nurse means a lot of studying and memorizing. It is better to plan too much time than not enough!!! Do not assume you will find the time. If you don't have it set aside, you'll end up pulling all-nighters, which is terrible when you are so busy!

2. Make sure you set aside time for yourself too. You want down time, or you will go crazy. Try to find an activity that helps you deal with the stress. That might be jogging, cooking, taking you dog to the park, or whatever else. Set aside time for that too.

3. Get plenty of sleep! This will allow you to be successful at both work and school!

4. Find a study buddy. Introduce yourself to classmates. This way if you miss a class, you can get notes. Plus you will have someone to study with, which helps a lot!

5. Do NOT procrastinate! You don't have time!

You just have to find a schedule that works for you. The more you plan, the better you will be. Remember: when you are this busy, procrastinating will be the death of you! Get things done ahead of schedule!