How to work and go to school full-time

To work and go to school full-time, you must use self-care practices, get support from your family and friends, and speak with your employer about your education goals. Here are some details on each of these strategies and others you can use to work and go to school full-time:

• Use self-care practices. Working and going to school full-time can be extremely stressful. Many who take this on can experience burnout in both areas.

  However, many self-care practices can combat these negative effects. Try to take at least one day off per week with no school or work. If you still have to study at night, devote a full day to yourself.

• Get support from your family and friends. Having the support of your family and friends can make this type of schedule work better.

  You must be honest with all family members about how your busy schedule might affect their lives. When they know your goals and understand why you are constantly busy, they will be more likely to give you the support you need during hectic times.

• Speak with your employer about your education goals. You should meet with your employer or manager to discuss your academic goals.

  Letting them know you will be working and going to school full-time allows them to empathize with your situation and can often foster respect because of your ambition. When you are transparent about your situation, your employer might be lenient.

• Try different educational tools. Get familiar with all the online tools you have available for your education. This helps because it allows you to complete certain assignments or other school functions from various places, as long as there is an internet connection.

  Preparing for each class is also essential.

• Find unique times to study. Instead of always having to work a full day and study at night, try to find different ways to fit your studies.

  For example, if your full-time job requires you to commute a good distance, see if you can take public transit instead of driving your car. This way you can study to and from work. Use ingenuity to find different ways to fit in your studies while working.

• Try to manage your expectations. Remember, these are difficult tasks to juggle, don't be too hard on yourself when something goes exactly to plan. Hitting one obstacle or experiencing one setback will not completely derail your future goals.

• Create a detailed schedule. Creating a schedule is another way to stay organized during this busy time. Try to plan each week, and you might also want to devise quick contingency plans if things change with your schooling or work.

  Keeping a schedule is helpful because when you see your tasks written out, they normally aren't as overwhelming.