How to Balance School, Work, and Life

Explore our tips for time management and all the ways our schools help you balance a busy schedule.

Balancing school, work, and life as an adult learner can be challenging, but with some effective strategies and a supportive school, you can manage the balancing act successfully.

Consider Online Options

Online education has become increasingly popular as a growing number of students are balancing family and a full-time job while also pursuing higher education. 

Online courses offer more flexibility than traditional in-person courses. You’ll have 24/7 access to your material, coursework, and even lectures so that you can fit your learning at a time that works best for you. Classes are asynchronous, meaning there are no set times, so you don’t have to worry about being on time to class or planning around a particular time of day to study.

Online courses also eliminate the need to commute. If you’re working and have a busy schedule, you can put that saved time towards your studies or other priorities.

Try Flexible Course Loads

Some colleges and universities offer shorter sessions, such as 8 or 5-week sessions, instead of the traditional 16-week session. This allows you to focus on fewer classes at a time while still staying on track to earning your degree in a timely manner. In many cases, you can also choose how many classes you want to take each term. 

With this increased flexibility, you can schedule your classes on your own terms. If you know your schedule, you can plan in advance - taking more courses when you can and decreasing your courseload when you need to. Flexibility and time management will be the key to earning a degree while balancing other priorities.

Set a Schedule

Similar to planning your term-by-term course load, planning ahead is crucial when you are balancing multiple priorities. At the beginning of the term, you’ll receive a syllabus and/or assignment schedule, and you’ll want to plan out your weekly and daily priorities accordingly to make sure you have enough time for your studies AND the other parts of your life. The more you break it up, the better you’ll feel!

Prioritize Yourself

As you’re setting schedules, try to set some time for yourself, even if it doesn’t feel like you have the time.  Just a 30-minute workout or 5-minute time-out from other priorities may help clear your mind. The better you feel, the better you’ll be able to concentrate on tasks and check off items on your to-do list. 

Prioritizing yourself is about dedicating time to yourself, making choices, and creating a routine and habits that help your overall well-being - mentally and physically. Everyone is different, so you have to find some habits and routines that work for you!