Time Management Tips for Professionals Taking School on the Side

Brooke Chaplan

February 26, 2016

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One of the best decisions a working professional can make is going back to school to learn more, and improve their skill set. Whether it’s getting a project management degree online, or just taking local courses to get recertified, improving your resume and work credentials is always a benefit. While it is an excellent decision, it can also be challenging to execute. Depending on your schedule, there might be lots of late night assignments and early morning study sessions. The lack of sleep and lack of time to enjoy life as you once did can be challenging. However, after incorporating these four tips, time management might feel a little easier to grasp.

Exercise
No matter how busy things get, exercise is an excellent way to clear your mind. A working professional who is also a student, desperately needs clarity to be able to function. Exercise is great for the body, weight management, and boosting endorphins. Exercise is also very good for maintaining peace of mind in the midst of highly stressful situations. Use this time to review study material in your mind, or plan out your work day.

Meal Preparation
Choose a designated time to take care of chores like cleaning and meal preparation. If Sunday mornings tend to be free, go grocery shopping then. Season the meat, potatoes, and vegetables, and place them in the crock pot to cook. Clean the house while the crock pot is cooking. Try to figure out ways to multi-task and get those necessary chores done and out-of-the-way before the week begins.

Automation
It is very important to put as many things on automation as possible. For the professional who is getting a degree online, a good place to practice your skills is through managing home, school, and the workplace all at once. Instead of allowing bills to go delinquent and unpaid, set up a paperless billing system and an online account with as many utilities as possible. Set it all up for automation so there's no thought towards whether or not the cable bill and the light bill are paid. It's already done!

Schedule
Create a schedule that allows for some margin, flexibility, and realistic goals. Everyone gets tired and needs a break. Make sure to schedule time in for rest. Don't neglect your vital necessities like food, sleep and travel time as well. With this in mind, make sure to stick to a designated schedule. Avoid procrastination because it bleeds over into other areas, and can lead to serious consequences.

These time management tips are great building blocks for a firm foundation when school and work seem to collide. These tips might require a little finessing in the beginning, but before long, a set routine will happen. Once things get solidified and feels second nature, it becomes a lot easier to focus on excelling in the schoolwork and in the workplace at the same time!