In this blog post, we shared 3 common challenges working students face and how to beat them, including tips to help you win at the working student life.
Being a working student is a rewarding yet challenging experience. Rewarding, since you’re training yourself to hold more responsibilities while your earn; challenging since it takes a lot to manage the demands of work and school at the same time.
Still, many students are up for the common challenges working students face and many graduates can attest to the rewarding experience of earning and bagging a diploma despite the challenges they face.
If you’re a working student, know that you’re not alone in the struggle. If you’re considering becoming a working student, keep in mind that no task is easy but the path of a working student is always a fruitful experience. With patience and perseverance, you can overcome the following challenges.
With patience and perseverance, you can overcome the following challenges. Click To TweetUndecided With Goals
What are your goals? To finish your studies on time? To earn enough money to buy that dream car? Save your funds for investment insurance in your country?
No matter what your goal is, use this to encourage yourself to balance your time between your studies and your part-time job. Your goal serves as THE motivation to keep on working. Work towards the finish line by establishing realistic plans, goals, and expectations of what you want to achieve in school and after graduating. Once you’ve laid out your blueprint for success, you can better prioritize your energy and time towards the right things.
Related: Career Boosters: 3 Side Hustles College Students Can Do to Improve Their Resume
Going to Bed Tired and Exhausted
Unlike non-working students, you have more tasks on your plate. While your friends are hanging out, you’re fixing library cards, filing documents or doing more work for your office. It’s great to work, but it can also be exhausting. You’re no Avenger; it’s natural to feel tired when you balance school with work. Eventually, you’ll struggle with remembering what you study or working better.
Working students usually wake up early and sleep late just to accommodate their work and school errands. Despite the need to finish your tasks, you still need rest. So, even though it’s tricky, make sure you’re getting good sleep. If you can’t sleep seven to eight hours a day, make the most of the hours that you sleep. Refrain from browsing through social media when you’re in bed; get some good sleep.
If your immune system is not at its best, you'll easily get sick. If you get sick, you'll be unable to work or study. Click To TweetMany students claim that their bodies run on less than four hours of sleep. You may feel OK today, but you’ll reap the consequences of lack of sleep tomorrow. Lack of good sleep can weaken your immune system. If your immune system is not at its best, you’ll easily get sick. If you get sick, you’ll be unable to work or study.
The Overwhelming Feeling of Projects, Homework, and Balance Dues
It’s frustrating to see a pile of schoolwork and unpaid dues sitting on your desk. Many working students are paying off their statements of accounts, which can be overwhelming to deal with, especially if you’re thinking about the paper you have to finish.
As a result, you feel more tired. The pressure of meeting deadlines can take its toll on your physical and mental health.
If you need someone to talk to, seek out the people you trust. It's better to release your worries than to keep them locked inside. Click To TweetIt’s easy to say “Don’t let worry get to you,” but it’s not realistic. It’s natural to worry but always have a forward-thinking mindset. Before you plan, take a deep breath, close your eyes and exhale. Next, prioritize your schedule. Pay off what you can and meet the papers that you need. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for help from loved ones or friends. If you need someone to talk to, seek out the people you trust. It’s better to release your worries than to keep them locked inside.
How to Conquer the Working Student Life
There’s no way around it – splitting your time and attention between the demands of school and your job isn’t ideal. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
Here’s how you can win at the working student life and beat the common challenges working students face.
- Become the master of your time. Time is of the essence so spend it wisely. To succeed with high-stress circumstances, be purposeful with how you spend your time. Always schedule everything – recreation, class time, study time -you want to be successful with your time. If procrastinating has been your tendency, it’s time to break free. Get stuff done as soon as possible.
- Leverage your natural tendencies. Learn more about your habits as a learner and use them to your advantage as you work to earning a degree. If you’re a planner, allocate blocks to complete your program and still perform your tasks.
- Take care of yourself. Even if you have plenty of tasks on your to-do list, don’t forget to unwind now and then. Pushing yourself to your limits will compromise the quality of your work. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you watch your favorite Netflix shows or go to sleep.
Being a working student is a rewarding experience. Exhausting as it can be, the rewards are worth the effort. But don’t forget to give yourself a break. Although you’re a hero for earning while you study, you’re no Avenger. You need rest, too.
