How to Balance Life and Work While Going to School Online

Online classes have a number of advantages for people who are working full-time, allowing them to continue to support themselves and families while also pursuing their degree. That said, some people may find it difficult to balance all three of these areas together, and understandably so: Each area is important in its own right, and there are only so many hours in a day. With possible study distractions, stress from work or family and the possibility of burnout, it can be intimidating to try to juggle multiple things simultaneously.

Fortunately, with a bit of planning and foresight, balance can be found. This article highlights five important tips that can help you get started and keep you on the path toward graduation.

Five Important Tips for Balance

Make a schedule – Balancing school, work and life is a matter of prioritizing and scheduling. Start by looking at your various commitments and deciding which have fixed, non-negotiable timeframes. Your time working and commuting may be set in stone, for example, as may certain meetings or obligations with family.

Your goal should be to identify when you have a chunk of free time and which commitments may have timeframes that can be adjusted as needed. When you have identified a chunk of free time, even if only for an hour or two, it is important to set this time aside for your studies. Mark it in your calendar or daily planner and make it official, just as you would your other commitments.

Include time for family – When making a schedule, be careful to not overlook the importance of also spending time with friends and family. While it is important to have uninterrupted study time, the goal is to get you thinking about also factoring in life, health and happiness.

We all have personal commitments like errands or laundry, but scheduling is also about finding the occasional free hour to spend time with loved ones (or just by yourself with a good book). Balancing these commitments with work and class time is certainly a lot, but with persistence and time management, it can be done.

Choose your study space carefully – When you do sit down to study, it is essential to do so in an organized space with minimal distractions. If you tend to be distracted by phones, the Internet, music or other activities, try to avoid them if possible. Turn off your phone and close out any time-wasters on your computer. If you must keep devices turned on in order to respond to family, then try to do so without giving in to the temptation to lose focus by texting friends or browsing the Internet.

Let others know that you are taking a class – Generally, it is easier to balance class with other commitments when people know that you are studying. Talk with friends and family and let them know that studying, and arranging time so that you can do so, is important to you. You may also find it worth taking a similar approach with your employer.

While it is possible that he or she would not be able to help, it may also be the case that they would be interested in your success and encourage you to keep trying. Some employers may even be able to adjust work schedules accordingly, making the search for dedicated study time easier.

Keep responsibilities separate in your mind – Nothing derails a study session like worrying about something that happened at work or an upcoming commitment with family. Try to not focus on work when you are studying (and vice versa). Avoid checking your work email or skimming through meeting notes. It is not always easy, but balance lies in focusing on work when you are at work, and studying when you are studying.

Think About the Future

Balancing online classwork with work and life commitments is a difficult challenge. That said, with proper planning and the ability to focus on one thing at a time, even the busiest of schedules can be met. The key is to keep trying to manage your time well, stick with your classes until finished and not give up. While balance can be difficult in the short term, it is not impossible, and all of the effort will be worth it when your degree is completed.