How I Balance School and Work

My name is Safiya Abdulhakim, and I’m a 2017 ALL WAYS UP scholar. Today I’m going to share how I balance school and work at the same time.

1. Use a planner:

• Using a planner is especially useful if you have appointments, your days are busy, and you are having trouble keeping track of your schedule.

• Fill in all of your fixed appointments - class times, work times, due dates, and familial obligations.

• After filling out all your fixed appointments, you'll know exactly when your free time is so you can schedule studying sessions or leisure time.

2. If you have other members in your household, keep your calendar posted where everyone can see it:

• That way, they can avoid making plans that involve you during times when you aren't available.

3. Write out what you need to accomplish each and every day:

• When you accomplish a task, check it off with a pen.

• You'll be able to see how much you've accomplished while keeping your future tasks organized.

• As a working student, you have to be ready to adapt to new assignments, unexpected errands, and sudden work crises that need to be addressed promptly.

4. Make enough study time in your schedule:

• If something comes up, you can reschedule that task to another slot during the week.

5. Build a routine that you can stick to but are able to adjust if other important things come up:

• A routine can encourage you to stay on top of your tasks and make sure you are getting everything done on time.

• If you don’t have a routine, you might fall behind and lose track of when things are due or when you need to work.

• Having a routine will allow you to avoid prioritizing work over school.