How To Organize Your Time and Studies Successfully

“Ships do not sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you and weigh you down.” – unknown.

For the above quotation, the so-called realistic human beings will answer “But I am not a ship and my problems are not water”.

Yes, of course, that’s true, but it’s just another excuse not to take care of your own problems.

Everyone, at some point, has been under the impression that problems can become unmanageable simply because we are humans. Currently one of the most frequent problems among students, is the stress caused by working whilst studying.

It is true that a student who studies and works at the same time does not have as much time available as someone who is only studying, but, although managing both seems elusive, it is all about organizing.

Sara Lopez, Spanish student studying abroad and working in Denmark as both a Team coach and a marketing manager for Trendhim, gives us three tips on how to organize ourselves based on her own experience.

1. Prioritize your daily tasks and learn to control your time

We all have experienced a situation where the overload of activities forces us to organize our tasks within a specific time frame.

This is usually only done when there is a deadline, but all of those students who work while studying are aware that due to the overload of activities, knowing how to organize properly is the key to success. The moment your life changes, and your responsibilities grow, sooner or later you will start prioritizing your life, starting by striving to get home from work as fast as possible (to have time to study), continuing by limit your leisure activities and ending by adjusting yourself to a completely new lifestyle. This will be the first step.

The second step is related to time management and your organizational skills. Most of the ones that work whilst studying assume that their lives are different from the regular full-time student life, which it’s true, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s harder. It’s all about time management and having good planning skills.

Students who work and study tend to have part-time jobs, which are about twelve hours a week. To these hours we have to add the hours needed to study, which will be about twenty-five hours a week. Therefore, it is important to have a well-organized plan from the beginning.

However, having to study twenty-five hours a week does not mean they have to be equality split every day. Most of the time spent on studies will be during weekends, which could for example,  result on going out on Friday or Saturdays less often.

Something essential to organize time efficiently is to be aware of the deadlines. Otherwise, work overload can become unbearable when the number of unfinished tasks begins to grow.

2. Good planning helps you have everything under control.

Time management includes monthly, weekly and daily study planning. Once you are familiar with the requirements of a particular course and you are aware of what you expect from yourself in terms of time and effort, success will come by itself.

Although when it comes to studying wise planning is essential, you should not neglect the fact that you have to be ready and fresh to work every day. Do not plan a lot of activities for one day or you can feel frustrated.

3. Do not forget to take breaks from time to time

If you are a student and you have a part-time job, probably this is not the first time you hear this question: “Is it possible to be constantly fresh and focused on work and study?”

Honestly, there will be days when you will feel extremely tired and there may even be days when you will think it is better to give up either your studies or your job.

Both your studies and your job are important, but with the overload of obligations stress is inevitable. For this reason, it is necessary to have time to relax, even if it’s only half an hour each day. Most of the time, taking a break, has a positive effect on our energy and overall efficiency when going back to work or study.

Discover the true meaning of time

In short, the moment you decide to become a student with a job, you will discover the true meaning of time, and how it’s much more valuable than before.

Time will become your ally during your studies, whether you like it or not. And you will have to learn how to organize yourself so that you can manage all personal and professional activities.

Good luck!