How to Balance School, Work, and Personal Life: 7 Helpful Tips

When you’re trying to juggle school, work, and personal commitments all at once, it’s easy to feel a little imbalanced. You might feel like you’ve not got enough time to study, for instance, or that you spend too much time working to have the sort of social life you desire.

With that in mind, let’s look at some tips and strategies for an optimal work-school-life balance.

7 Strategies for How You Can Balance School, Work, and Personal Life

An unhealthy work-school life balance can leave you feeling overwhelmed and may even take a toll on your physical and mental health, too. Here are some ways to manage your time wisely and balance work, school, and personal commitments more easily:

1. Take an online course
2. Schedule effectively for a healthier work-school-life balance
3. Communicate with your employer
4. Communicate with your family
5. Avoid perfectionism
6. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
7. Avoid distractions and procrastination

#1 – Take an Online Course

Many students struggle to balance work and school when they have to actually attend in-person classes and follow a fixed, rigid school life schedule.

To solve this, consider taking an online class or course instead.

It allows more flexibility, as you can work independently, where and when you want, at your own pace, and complete assignments during the times of day that suit you best.

#2 – Schedule Effectively for a Healthier Work-School Life Balance

Arguably the No. 1 rule of managing your time effectively and maintaining a healthy work school life balance is being able to create a schedule and stick to it.

If you can do that – setting clear boundaries, planning out your days, and assigning time for work, school, and social fun – you should find it easier and more enjoyable to live your life the way you want.

Just remember to review your schedule regularly and make changes when necessary as your needs evolve.

#3 – Communicate with Your Employer

Perhaps you’ve got a full-time job that’s taking up tons of your time, making it almost impossible to get that work-life balance you crave.

If so, talk about it!

Schedule a meeting with your supervisor or manager and talk with them about your situation. They may be able to offer more flexible working hours or a shift pattern that works better for you.

#4 – Communicate with Your Family

Speak to your family, too, about your situation if you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling to set boundaries, or finding it hard to keep up with all your engagements.

Family members have often been in the same sort of situation in the past. They may be able to provide helpful advice or assist you in other ways to help you get your work-life balance back on track.

#5 – Avoid Perfectionism

Trying to do everything absolutely perfectly is a surefire way to end up feeling like you never have enough time for all your tasks and “to-do” lists.

So, try to avoid perfectionism. Do your best at school and work, of course, but don’t feel obligated to maintain flawless, unrealistic standards in all your endeavors.

#6 – Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

As touched on earlier, a lack of balance in your life can impact your overall health, both physically and mentally.

To counteract this, and to promote a healthier and more balanced life all around, try to practice healthy habits.

Make sure you get enough sleep each night, eat plenty of health-boosting foods, and try to fit some exercise into your schedule. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

#7 – Avoid Distractions and Procrastination

These days, in a world of smartphones, portable devices, the internet, and social media, it’s so easy to get distracted when you should be focused on something more important.

You can easily lose minutes or even hours to these distractions and moments of procrastination over the course of an average day.

Avoid them as best you can. Use techniques like taking mini breaks if you feel the urge to procrastinate or apps and tools that prevent you from visiting certain websites while you work.

Discover How UC Makes Going Back to School Flexible for You

To help every college student enjoy a work-school life balance and create a study schedule that works for them, the University of Cincinnati offers a great range of online courses. Whether you want to study sports admin, midwifery, health science, or something else, you can make it happen with UC’s online programs, with flexible learning hours that fit with the rest of your life.

Learn more about how UC makes online learning stress-free and straightforward by reaching out today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is school work-life balance?

School-work-life balance is about managing your time and energy between school, work, and personal life so that you don’t feel overwhelmed or burnt out. It involves setting boundaries and making intentional choices to prioritize your responsibilities and well-being.

How do you create a work school life balance?

To create balance, start by organizing a realistic schedule that sets time aside for studying, work, and downtime. Set clear boundaries, communicate your needs with others, and don’t hesitate to adjust your plan as you go to find what works best.

How can I survive college while working full-time?

Balancing college with a full-time job takes planning and flexibility, but it’s doable. Look for online courses or flexible scheduling options, prioritize self-care, and don’t be afraid to ask for support from friends, family, or your employer.