Mastering Work-Study Balance | Dr. Alison Watson | Part 1
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Both distance and blended learning students must navigate the challenges of balancing work and study during a degree. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is central to maximising the student experience and excelling at university.
From goal setting to leveraging technology during your studies, this post shares valuable study tips for balancing work and study while pursuing a degree at Arden University.
In part one of a new three part series, we sat down and spoke to Arden’s Professor Alison Watson, Head of School of Leadership and Management, for advice about how to make sure you can fit your studies around your life effectively.
You can watch the full interview here, and then read more in our blog below.
The challenges of balancing work, life and studies
Striking a balance between work, life and studies can be challenging for students. Juggling various responsibilities, including family commitments and employment, can affect time management, stress levels and overall performance.
Here are some of the main challenges of balancing work and study:
- Time management
One of the most challenging aspects of balancing work, life and studies is managing time for each. Looming deadlines, preparation for classes and work commitments can eat into a student’s personal life and affect their stress levels.
Balancing work and study can become overwhelming without time management skills, negatively affecting performance and outlook.
- Prioritisation
It can be hard to know what to prioritise while juggling various responsibilities. For example, if a student chooses to study for an extra hour one evening, that’s an hour less sleep before work in the morning.
Knowing what to prioritise can be strategic and should be shaped around project deadlines, exam periods and other considerations. By regularly and strategically shifting focus, students can prioritise what’s most important at that time.
- Motivation and productivity
Another challenge for students balancing work and study is maintaining motivation and productivity. Feeling overstretched in one area can lead to high stress levels and low motivation due to burnout.
This directly affects productivity due to a lack of clarity in decision-making and constant fatigue.
Tips to maintain a healthy work-life balance during your degree
Students can utilise many strategies and techniques to combat the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Students can navigate the challenges of balancing work and study by strategically managing their time through planning and organisation, prioritising key projects and creating effective study habits.
Here are our top study tips for students to maintain a healthy work-life balance during their degree:
Build an effective schedule that works for you
One of the best time management tips for students balancing multiple responsibilities is creating a tailored schedule to dedicate time to studies, work and personal life. A schedule can be a valuable outline of a best-case scenario, but flexibility is essential.
Sometimes, it can be hard to stick to a rigid schedule, so creating a flexible schedule and adapting to what life throws at you is key to balancing work and study.
Set clear goals and priorities
Goal setting is a common technique to increase motivation, focus and productivity. Setting goals allows students to visualise success and assists with time management for personal and professional commitments.
With work, life and studies demanding time and energy, students can prioritise tasks by setting short and long-term goals. Prioritisation can lead to effective task and academic time management, maximising time and energy.
Create a study environment that boosts productivity
Creating an inspiring study environment minimises distractions and maximises productivity. Finding the optimal environment for productivity is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some students prefer working in silence and solitude, while others adopt a more collaborative approach to studying in a more creative setting.
Creating a tailored study environment helps students separate their personal lives and studies to ensure a healthy work-life balance and increase productivity.
Leverage technology to maximise efficiency
Utilising technology during your studies helps with managing multiple responsibilities and balancing work and study. Task management platforms, including Trello and GoodNotes, help create a realistic schedule and can assist the goal-setting process to improve motivation.
Ask for help when you need it
One of the most important tips for balancing work and study is seeking support. Balancing work, life and studies can be overwhelming, and it is important to be honest with yourself if you are struggling to cope.
At Arden University, we’re committed to supporting you with your academic studies and everything you need to succeed in all aspects of your life. Learn how our dedicated student support team can help you here.
Balance work, life and studies at Arden University
Offering a wide range of distance and blended learning degree courses, Arden University provides high-quality education to suit everyone.
Our online degree courses are designed to fit around professional and personal commitments, offering flexibility and accessibility to a diverse pool of students.
Explore our online degree courses here.
FAQs
How can I effectively manage my time while juggling work, life and studies?
Time management is a key skill while pursuing a degree alongside various personal and professional commitments. Some practical strategies for managing time effectively include setting clear goals and prioritising projects, building an effective schedule tailored to your needs and creating a study environment that boosts productivity.
How can I stay motivated while managing multiple responsibilities?
Motivation is one of the biggest challenges for students balancing work and study, as online degree courses can be overwhelming and stressful. To combat low motivation, you can set goals, use a reward system, create an inspiring work environment and use apps to block distractions.
What tips can help us maintain a healthy work-life balance while studying?
Some valuable study tips for students aiming to maintain a healthy study-work balance are leveraging technology for task management and productivity, creating a flexible schedule for online degree courses and asking for help and advice from others when you feel overwhelmed.
Is it possible to achieve academic success while balancing work and life?
Many students excel academically despite balancing work and life during their degree. Success requires discipline, commitment and flexibility, but it is achievable for everyone, no matter the circumstances.
How can I manage unexpected challenges or disruptions to my schedule?
It is important to maintain a flexible approach to any schedule that you create as a student due to the unpredictable nature of life. This makes prioritisation an essential aspect of time management as there will be times when you must prioritise work, studies or life commitments.
What are some practical strategies for managing time effectively while studying?
Time management is essential while completing online degree courses. Some practical time management tips include goal setting, creating a study schedule, prioritising tasks and installing study habits like studying in a room without distractions.
How can I seek support from my employer while pursuing a degree?
Some employers may support employees with academic ambitions in various ways during online degree courses. Employers can support students by offering flexible work hours and remote working opportunities, as well as financial support in some cases. Communicating your academic plans and goals early with an employer and discussing ways they can support you is essential.
What role do family members and academic advisors play in helping students balance their responsibilities?
A strong support unit is beneficial to those pursuing online degree courses. Family and friends can help with balancing work and study by offering emotional support and practical assistance to create a productive study environment. Academic advisors can provide study tips for students, help them with goal setting and scheduling, assist with academic time management and provide useful resources. Learn how Arden University’s dedicated student support team assists students here.
