How to Time Manage as a Working Student

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Are you a busy student who needs help balancing coursework, leisure activities and professional commitments? If so, you've come to the right place. Being both a student and an employee can be difficult because it takes careful planning to ensure each responsibility is met with success. However, this doesn't mean that your success should take away from other areas of your life; in fact, there are many ways in which proper time management can increase enjoyment throughout all aspects of these important roles. In this blog, we explore how you can utilise simple techniques for managing time as a working student on the go!

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Identifying Priorities:

Identifying and prioritising tasks is crucial for working students as it allows them to focus on the most important and urgent tasks first and ensure that they can handle all the responsibilities they have to juggle.

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Tips for identifying and setting priorities:

1. Make a to-do list: Write down all the tasks and responsibilities you need to complete, and then prioritise them based on their level of importance and urgency.
2. Use the Eisenhower matrix: This matrix is a powerful tool that helps you to categorise tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and not urgent or important.
3. Set SMART goals: Use the SMART goals framework to set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals for yourself.
4. Learn to say no: One of the most important things you can learn as a working student is how to say no to non-essential tasks or activities that distract you from your priorities.

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How to prioritise tasks and responsibilities related to work and school:

1. Understand the deadlines: Make sure you know all the deadlines for assignments, projects, and exams, and prioritise those tasks accordingly.
2. Communicate with your employer: Discuss your school schedule with your employer, and find a way to balance your work and school responsibilities.
3. Use technology: Use apps and software to help you keep track of your tasks and deadlines, set reminders, and manage your time more efficiently.
4. Take breaks: Remember to take breaks and to rest, as burnout can lead to poor performance both in work and school.

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Scheduling Priorities

Scheduling and planning are crucial for working students as it allows them to manage their time effectively and stay on top of their responsibilities. By creating a schedule, working students can ensure that they have enough time for their school work, job and other essential aspects of their life.

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Tips for creating a schedule that works for you:

1. Use a planner: Use a planner to schedule your tasks, responsibilities, and events. This will help you visualise your schedule and ensure you have enough time for everything.
2. Make a schedule for the week: Set aside time each week to plan out your schedule for the upcoming week. This will help you stay on top of your tasks and responsibilities and make necessary adjustments.
3. Schedule time for breaks and leisure: Make sure to schedule time for breaks, relaxation, and leisure activities. This will help you to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
4. Be flexible: Be open to adjusting your schedule as needed. Sometimes things come up, and you will need to be able to adapt and change your plan to accommodate unexpected events.

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How to plan for and manage unexpected events and changes:

1. Build in buffer time: Set aside extra time in your schedule to allow for unexpected events or changes. This will help you to stay on track even if something unexpected happens.
2. Be proactive: Try to anticipate possible changes or disruptions and plan how to handle them.
3. Communicate: Keep your employer, professors, and classmates informed about any changes to your schedule or availability.
4. Learn to prioritise: Identify which tasks are essential and must be done first and which can wait.
5. Don't be afraid to ask for help: If you are overwhelmed by unexpected changes or events, don't hesitate to ask for help from your employer, professors, or classmates.

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Staying Focused and Avoiding Distractions

As a working student, staying focused and avoiding distractions can be challenging, particularly when balancing work and school responsibilities. However, staying focused on the task is crucial for productivity and success in work and school.

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Tips for avoiding distractions and staying on task:

1. Set specific goals: Clearly define what you want to accomplish and set clear goals for yourself. This will help you stay focused on the task and avoid distractions.
2. Minimise distractions: Identify and eliminate as many distractions as possible, such as turning off notifications on your phone or finding a quiet workspace.
3. Use the Pomodoro Technique: Break your work into intervals of 25 minutes, with short breaks in between. This will help you to stay focused and avoid burnout.
4. Prioritise your work: Tackle your most important tasks when you are most alert and focused.

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How to stay motivated and focused during times of stress and burnout:

1. Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep, exercise and eat healthily.
2. Stay organised: Keep your work and life organised; this will reduce stress and help you stay focused.
3. Reward yourself: Give yourself small rewards for completing tasks; this will help to keep you motivated.
4. Seek help: Be bold and seek help from your employer, professors or classmates if you feel overwhelmed or stressed.

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Time management for those in the challenging yet rewarding situation of being a working student can initially seem daunting. However, it can be accomplished with mindful planning and an understanding of your resources, amongst other things listed in this blog post. As travellers, students, visa holders and all other working students head into 2023 with a new outlook on time management after reading this blog post, remember that setting priorities is vital - knowing what work to do first so that everything else makes sense and falls into place. Effective use of technology can be a big help too. Using online tools or phone apps allows you to see the bigger picture regarding your tasks. Above all else, stay focused but approach each day with balance. With determination and a little creativity, anyone can enjoy both the physical and mental benefits of managing their time correctly as a working student.

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