Finding a Balance Between Work and School
It may come as a surprise, but I have a full-time job. Some of you may find it hard to believe because of the time that I spend on social media. Truth be told, working from 9 am to 5 pm is not ideal for me. But it pays me, so I must go where I am paid consistently (for now).
Don’t get me wrong, I would love for digital content creation to be my sole focus, but right now, your girl needs to be paid. So I work full-time in an office Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. It is a lot, especially in my field of work and also in school. Something else you might not know: I am a full-time Ph.D. student. And this is where my life gets busy and tiresome.
To be honest, I don’t have a full-proof plan to demonstrate how I maintain balance. There are some days when I don’t know how to start my week, but somehow, by the grace of God. I finish each week with my main tasks completed and I can breathe a little easier.
ORGANIZE
One thing that I keep with me at all times is my planner. Lately, I’ve been using the Happy Planner; I like the look, the stickers, and the style of planner pages. I’m an organized person, so I color coordinate and I make lists. This planner allows me to write down my thoughts and have space for more lists. The planners also come in different sizes.
I mainly use my planner for school. I don’t like adding work meetings unless it’s something that affects my day like a work-from-home day or an all-day meeting. This way I am able to plan my week based on what I know is going on. I’m a big fan of stickers. I use stickers for motivational quotes, reminders, and fun notes.
PRIORITIZE
For me, class takes place every eight weeks and I register for one class each term. It helps me focus on one course at a time which is necessary because the course load is heavy. I try not to wait until the last minute to do things like my discussion post or research papers but some days I am too tired to get a head-start on some of my work. This is why I also make a note to myself to relax and take moments where I don’t focus on work or school.
BLOCK TIME
There are times when I make a point to not look at my phone or pick up my computer for the sake of my mental health. I’d do it for a day and it gives me a chance to reset and prioritize my day.
What are some things you like to do to balance work or any combination of things that you do?
~Kels
