How to Balance Work and Study: Time Management Strategies

By Noel Reilly, Career Coach and School Leader.

Why Balance Matters

With many people pursuing additional study as part of their career journey, striking the balance between study, work and family life can often feel overwhelming. That is why embedding smart time management tips can make all areas of life much more workable. Everyone has different priorities within their personal and professional lives, and what works for one person may be completely counterproductive for another person. 

Reconnect with Your Purpose

It is important to identify your core values and what has led you to take on additional studies in the first place. Writing these values down and referring to them regularly will help you keep momentum and perspective. 

A career coach can help prioritise your values with you and enhance the development of your career journey map. Remember the end goal for your study and keep your focus on the marathon, not the sprint!

Expect Setbacks – And Plan for Them

Inevitably there will be ‘speed bumps’ along the way and it is important to identify time management strategies that will help you refocus, reframe and replenish.  Remember, everyone’s career/ study/ life journey is unique. Keep perspective and allow for ‘speedbumps’ as a natural part of the process. 

Practical Time Management Tips

Practical time management tips can help you refocus and act as a useful visual aid when work/ study/ life pressures become overwhelming. Here are some suggestions:

• Set clear priorities and rank your tasks – assign tasks into urgent/ non-urgent and important/ non-important grids.
  
• Create a weekly schedule – block out time for work, study and relaxation. Colour coding different tasks can help as a visual aid. 
  
• Have breaks scheduled within your study or work periods. Breaks are just as important as your study/work periods. Give yourself time to replenish and to reduce the risk of burnout.
  
• Sleep, exercise and a healthy diet are essential factors in managing study and work productively. 
  
• Group similar tasks to stay focused. This may help you engage at different levels when required. 
  
• Avoid multitasking – this can be challenging and one which I personally find difficult to do as a school principal. It is difficult to be immersed in a task when there is another task in the background that is getting some of your attention. The benefits in focusing on one task is to maximise your efficiency and undivided attention. This may help yield professional and personal rewards.

• Set realistic goals – divide a large task into smaller sections to make work or study more manageable and less daunting. 
  
• Learn to say No. This can be very challenging, however, adhering to the weekly schedule (as best as possible) will help in saying no or deferring the yes for the time being!!
  
• Use your time wisely. When waiting for an appointment there may be an opportunity to read a chapter/ journal article/ podcast. Similarly, a walk to an appointment will balance work/ study commitments and give greater clarity and nurture wellbeing. 
  
• Maintain self-care. Everyone works differently. Personally, I must prioritise wellbeing to work and study. As the saying goes “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. 
  
• If there isn’t a flow with your work or study, then revert to a task that requires less cognitive energy.
  
• Review and reflect weekly- I find a diary very useful. It helps to refine my thinking and reprioritise my work/ study/life balance when necessary. I also use the WWW technique (What Went Well) to help prioritise my work/ study/ life balance. 

Conclusion

The balance between work, study and family life is challenging. Using the practical tips referred to should allow for a healthy mindset when moving from one challenge to the next. Personal and professional fulfilment requires planning and consistency, otherwise stress and burnout can manifest. 

‘You cannot pour from an empty cup’