As a college student with a full-time job, it can be hard to find time for everything… Let alone studying.
In this post, I’ll share my hacks to make time for homework, even while balancing work and life.
Make use of work breaks
I have a 1 hour lunch break, so I take this time to read required texts for classes. I plan ahead by printing out my required readings, putting them in a folder, and bringing them to my car. I also keep a pen in my car to notate important details.
Even a 15 minute or 30 minute break can be enough to do something if you plan correctly. Maybe bring your flashcards in your work bag, or you can scroll through lecture notes on your phone.
Stay up later or wake up earlier
Some days when I make poor decisions and procrastinate on papers, I have to either force myself to wake up early, or stay up late.
It’s easier for me to do the latter, so sometimes, I sacrifice sleep to make progress on my classes.
If you do better in the mornings, getting up an hour earlier is a great way to fit in an extra 30-45 minutes of studying before work.
Stop scrolling
I did an informal time audit and found that scrolling on social media took as much as 3-8 hours of my day. Plus, I feel horrible afterwards!
After I stopped scrolling, I was able to fit more into a day, and I was a happier person.
What if you don’t want to stop scrolling though?
I ask my husband to hide my phone. If it’s out of sight, it’s mostly out of mind. Even if it isn’t, it’s in my husband’s custody for my own sanity haha.
Hide your phone somewhere and study instead of trying to escape. You’ll find that it works wonders, even if you’re a student working a full-time job like me.
Maximize your days off from work
Most of my homework gets done on weekends. I like to get up a little earlier on Saturday and start chipping away at weekly assignments.
Although days off are important for relaxation and rest, if you need to study, weekends are one of the best options.
Create systems to reduce time spent on decision-making
Systems are a game-changer to get more done with less time and less effort.
For example, I have a system I use when I need to write a paper for a class.
- Read instructions on Blackboard
- Copy instructions into my online Obsidian dashboard.
- Start drafting the paper in Obsidian and keep track of my sources as I go
- Copy and paste into Microsoft Word and format.
- Re-read directions to make sure I answered the questions
- Submit.
If you want a more detailed guide on how to write a research paper as a working student, check out my system that has gotten me A’s here.
Anyways, having a system like this means you don’t have to worry about deciding what to do next. I’ve noticed that making choices is what takes the most time because I’m trying to analyze the best course of action.
Making decisions is also emotionally draining.
It might take you some time to create systems that work around your job and class schedule, but stick to it, and you’ll find that you build routines that eventually become natural to you.
Conclusion
To conclude, this post covered 5 proven ways to find time to study when working full-time. It can feel difficult and overwhelming at first, but after your first couple weeks you’ll feel more confident. For more related helpful tips as a working student, join the email list below, then check out this post about time management and productivity strategies for working students.