If you’re a college student, you may feel like you have no time for socializing. Busy college classes, after-class studying, deadlines, and the campus party, you wish you could be in two places at once.
Of course, this is on top of the relationships you’re trying to maintain, be it a friend, a lecturer or a particular person. The best part, nothing is impossible. If you have enough dedication and passion about what you’re doing, you are never alone in doing it.
If you wish to study for a career alongside working, you need to think of a few things:
Consider studying online
If you’ve completed your college education and are already trained, but need to advance your career, you can consider online learning courses. The people who run these online institutions and courses know what you need from a distance learning perspective; they would already take up your potential issues before you even bring to notice. There is a solid support system online, even if you aren’t seeing anybody physically.
Connect with Others
Social life takes a huge hit because of study and work. It can be a very unsociable experience. To avoid anxiety and potential failures because of loneliness, connect with those who are studying and working, too. You can even establish study dates with other people in the area working towards a similar qualification. Solitary working can sometimes be very favourable, and socializing too much can have an adverse effect.
Be Honest
Be 100% truthful about what you’re trying to achieve. Your friends or family members may have a whole load of free time, and you might get a host of invitations to things you really can’t accept. Instead of saying “can’t make it”, you can clearly tell them of your work-study obligations. The more open and honest you are, the easier it is to manage.
Try a Job Which Works Around your Studies
Consider a job which is not too specific and has plenty of colleagues available to cover or swap shifts. Take some time to think about what works for you in regards to your study and job schedule. You don’t want to take one day off and have the work balloon and pile up for you to deal with once you resume!
Work Hard, Enjoy It
When you work towards something wonderful, you should be proud of yourself. It’s hard to enjoy something if it’s truly running you into the ground, but these experiences are rare. So, don’t shrug off the stressful journey as just a means to the end. Try and look at it differently, in small, positive steps, and reward yourself when needed.
Above all these points, look after yourself. If balancing everything is truly affecting your physical and/or mental health, ask for help, re-evaluate and don’t push yourself too hard. If you need a break, take it.
