Each year, many people choose to study alongside their full-time jobs and family commitments. It’s no easy task, but it can be done with a lot of hard work and some clever planning.

No student WANTS to work while trying to balance their studies, but it's a must for most people who don't have wealth to fall back on. They need to work to pay for food, daily living expenses, their costs for Clubhouse UCONN Student Living - all of the essential living costs need to be paid for somehow. If you consider that you have all these costs ahead, working is going to help you to manage them better - even when you'd rather not! Working as a student may feel overwhelming, but with the right organisation you're going to be able to do both and do them well. You won't be completely splitting your attention, either, not when you find the right role to balance your studies and your commitment to earning some cash. So, how can you study while holding down a job and not tear your hair out? Let's take a look!

Look at the big picture, then break it down

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as you think about the months and years of study ahead of you. While you should always keep your goal in your mind, to motivate you, the only way you will be able to achieve it is to start breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. What do you need to achieve on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis? Once you get some perspective, it will be easier to start working towards your goal while also keeping up with the demands of your day job.

Use technology

All learning providers use technology to some extent on their courses. Systems such as e-blackboard or AtHomePrep let you study online and access course materials from mobile devices. Utilize any of these platforms available to you to make it easier to fit in a few minutes of study when you get the chance.

Other ways to use technology include buying the digital version of textbooks rather than carrying them around with you all the time. The digital versions are often cheaper too.

Another good way to use technology to study is to have an online study schedule. This can be done very simply by using the calendar app on your phone or you can get a little more sophisticated and use a program like Trello or Asana to plan your tasks in detail.

Find your best time to work

Studying alongside a career and other commitments mean you’re always struggling to find the time to fit in the study. Find out when you work best and try to arrange your schedule around this. For instance, if you work better in the morning, try getting up earlier rather than staying up late into the night.

Create a support network

Your family, friends, and colleagues can be a great source of support for you while you study. Let them know what you are hoping to achieve and how they can help you. They may be able to watch the kids for a few hours while you study, or provide some much needed social activity when you need to take a break. By telling others, you’ll immediately feel a sense of accountability to do your best.

Tell your employer

If you’re studying to advance your career or get that promotion, then your employer may be able to help you with things like study days or even help with your studies. Of course, if you’re planning to quit your job the moment you’ve qualified, maybe keep it low key.

Make time for yourself

You will often feel like you’re being pulled in many directions at once. Especially if you’re holding down a full-time job and have other caring responsibilities. But it is very important that you make the time for your own physical and mental wellbeing. Schedule time to relax, exercise, socialize, and try and get a good amount of sleep on a regular basis. Pulling all-nighters to study can only last for so long before it begins to affect your health and your grades.