Five tips for better school-work-life balance

Does the thought of your daily to-do list make your heart race?

There’s coursework to complete, a 9-to-5 job to manage, not to mention spending quality time with family and friends. If you’re having trouble keeping it all in balance, you’re not alone.

Attending school while working full-time can be a real challenge. But it IS possible to manage your many responsibilities without sacrificing your overall well-being. Capella University students share how they maintain balance while working toward their degrees.

Give their top five suggestions a try, and start enjoying a better school-work-life balance.

1. Establish a structure.

“I need structure. Sunday is for family, Monday and Tuesday are work. Wednesday and Thursday, school. Twice a month, Friday is for friends or just me. The other two Fridays and Saturdays are school or work, depending on what projects I am working on.” Elizabeth H. “I had a swing shift at a really great company that encouraged further education. So any downtime I had at work, I could spend on homework. In other positions, I spent my breaks/lunch reading or writing for school. I bought a Surface (tablet PC), so it was easy to carry around what I needed for school.” Kayla S. “I keep an organized whiteboard for coursework and TA work.” Marla O. “Keeping a calendar on my cell and PC helps balance my time management.” Jared D. “I calendar everything…work time, study time, free time.” Rita J. Try it: For one month, create a schedule for everything you need to accomplish. Don’t forget to put “me time” on the calendar! A detailed schedule can help you keep work, school, and your health in balance. Choose the format that works best for you, whether it’s a digital calendar (on your phone or computer), whiteboard on the wall, or a traditional paper calendar.

2. Identify the best time to study.

“Choose a time that works best for you. Some people go to bed earlier and get up earlier to do homework before their kids and spouse wake up, and before they’d regularly start getting ready for work.” Kayla S. “I had been feeling overwhelmed with all the roles I have in life: wife, mom, soccer mom, fitness instructor, child assault prevention workshop presenter, trauma intervention volunteer, and student. Luckily, I’m earning my degree via FlexPath, and that has been a blessing to my busy schedule. I find it best to write my papers in the early morning, between 5 and 7:30 a.m. I can do research anytime.” Myra M. Try it: When are you most able to focus on your studies? Early in the morning when the house is quiet, during the lunch hour, or after everyone’s gone to bed? Identify these time windows, and reserve them for coursework.