Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Organize your time
• Method 2 of 5: Teach yourself efficient study methods
• Method 3 of 5: Work efficiently
• Method 4 of 5: Dealing with stress
• Method 5 of 5: Teach yourself the right way of thinking

As an adult you have obligations. You have a job. You pay the bills. Maybe you have a family, a partner and / or children. You have to work, but you also want to go back to school to get higher. It seems impossible to combine all of these responsibilities, but with a little ingenuity, good planning, and the support of your family, you can get the job done.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Organize your time

1. Make a flexible schedule. Some parts of your schedule are fixed, such as your class schedule and your working days. Schedule your homework for times when you are not in class and not at work. Make sure you develop a routine that you can stick to, but that gives you enough flexibility to prioritize urgent matters. As a working student, you have to be able to adapt your schedule to new assignments, unexpected tasks and urges that suddenly arise at work and with which you have to get started immediately. Set aside enough time in your schedule for study so that you can move your homework to later in the week if needed if something urgent comes up.
   • Buy a calendar. Choose a calendar with plenty of space to write things down. Write down what to do every day. As soon as you have completed a task, check it off with a pen. This way, you can see not only what you need to do, but also what you have already achieved.
   • If you have family members, make sure your calendar is accessible to them. For example, hang it in the kitchen. That way they can take your schedule into account and not schedule appointments when you can't.
2. Use an agenda. An agenda is especially useful if you have many appointments and your days all look different, making it difficult to keep a good overview of all your appointments. Put all your fixed appointments in your agenda. Your class schedule, working hours, deadlines, family commitments. This way you get a good view of your free time, and you can plan time for homework and relaxation.
3. Make the most of your smartphone. Most smartphones have a calendar and an action list by default. If these features aren't already on your smartphone, there are plenty of apps you can download for free or for a small fee. You can synchronize Apple and Google products with your laptop or your PC, so that you can view and keep track of your schedule on different devices. If you add something to your calendar on your smartphone, the appointment will also be visible in the calendar on your laptop.
4. Share your schedule. Tell your friends and family what your schedule looks like. Let them know what it means to study in addition to your job so they can take into account the challenges you face. Who knows, they may even make your life easier. At the very least, they know what to expect from you, and when to leave you alone.
   • Create an agenda online and share the link with the people for whom it is important to know where you are and when. You can use a special calendar web page for this, or you can just share a Google Calendar with them.
5. Plan your studies. Know what to do to get a degree. Which courses or modules do you have to take, how many credits do you have to obtain at least per year, which courses are given in the evenings or at the weekend? Make a multi-year plan. Every school or university is different and has different rules of the game. Talk to a school counselor and ask for help in designing the curriculum that is feasible for you.
6. Make time for your family. When making your schedule, take time for your family and family obligations into account. Schedule time for the household, for your partner and for your children. Some activities can be combined well, for example doing homework while the laundry is running.
   • If you have children, make sure you continue to give them enough attention. Depending on your home situation, you may need to arrange additional childcare. Your children still need food, and should still be able to go to you if they have a scraped knee. Don't let your children get neglected when you go to school.
7. Schedule a weekly social activity. You want to maintain your friendships. Schedule something fun with your friends every week. This shows that you are not forgetting them, and it gives you something to look forward to while you toil on your homework.
8. Make time for yourself. With all your responsibilities, it is difficult to cope with everything, let alone still have time for yourself. And yet it is important to take yourself into account. To prevent burnout, it is important to schedule time for yourself every week. Even if it is only an hour in the park to read a book. Making time for yourself keeps you happy and healthy.

Method 2 of 5: Teach yourself efficient study methods

1. Work structured. Keep your study materials tidy and organized so that you can easily find what you need. Put deadlines in your agenda and start school assignments on time so that you have enough flexibility in your planning when unexpected things arise, for example at work. If you are taking several courses at the same time, divide your time well over the different courses.
2. Make good notes during lessons. Focus on the most important things in class. What is the common thread? What conclusions does the teacher formulate? What details are repeated by the teacher? That is the information that should land in your notes, and that you will see in the exams.
   • If for any reason you miss a class, ask a classmate to take notes for you.
3. Find a good study place. Find a place where you can study quietly, undisturbed and comfortably. Make sure you have a nice chair, a table, enough light and all the study material you need.
4. Avoid distractions while you study. Turn off your phone and your television. Leave your email and social media alone. Efficient studying means that all your attention is focused on the topic you are learning about at the time.
   • If you are easily distracted by social media such as YouTube or Facebook, download an app that allows you to regulate access to social media. When you have finished studying, you can restore access to all social media.
   • Make sure your family understands that study time is important. They need to know not to disturb you while you are studying. Do not feel guilty if you are not available to others while you are doing your homework.
5. Keep track of your homework; don't delay. Do your homework from the first lesson and review what you have learned regularly. Don't delay learning until the last moment. The study material does not linger well if you go through everything at once. Your brain is a muscle, and like all other muscles, repetition increases the strength of the muscle. You also don't go to the gym to lift a really heavy weight once with the expectation that you'll be a good weightlifter next. You go to the fitness center to gradually raise your level in short workouts.
6. Talk to your teachers. If you don't understand a topic properly, go to the source. Many lecturers have office hours, or else you can send them an e-mail with your questions. Connecting with your teacher helps you overcome classroom obstacles.
7. Join a study group. Studying together is more fun, and you can help each other with difficult parts. Some schools and universities organize study groups or even tutoring, but you can of course also ask your classmates if they want to study together.

Method 3 of 5: Work efficiently

1. Make a list of tasks to do. For each day, make a list of what to do that day. Put both the small and the big activities on it. Emails to be answered, forms to fill out, meetings to attend, and anything else you need to do before the end of the day.
2. Organize your to-do list. Put the most important tasks at the top of your list and the least important at the bottom. If you come to the conclusion that a particular task is unnecessary, scrap that task. Don't waste your time on unnecessary things. Your productivity will only suffer from that.
3. Organize your workplace. A tidy workplace is the first step to a productive day. Store clutter, sort papers, put writing utensils in a tray or drawer and keep your desk tidy during the day.
   • Get everything you don't necessarily need from your desk. A photo of your family on your desk is fine, but don't let your desk be littered with knick knacks. You need a tidy workplace without things to distract you.
   • Determine which forms or information you should keep on hand. Think of business cards, standard forms, mailing lists, salary statements or financial reports. If you work a lot with paper instead of digital information, buy sorting bins so that you can conveniently store documents that belong together. That way you make information easier to find.
   • Tidy up your things at the end of the day. Store documents and writing materials and make sure you leave your desk tidy. That way you can get started right away the next day and you don't have to clean up first.
4. Tap into the power of collaboration. Delegate tasks. Divide complex activities into small activities and divide them among your team members. Don't toil for days on your own if you can do it with a team in a few hours.
   • Remember you can say "No" to additional responsibilities. If someone asks you to help with a project when you don't actually have time for it, indicate that you would normally like to help, but that it really isn't working right now because you have an important deadline for school.
5. Consider talking to your supervisor. If you wish, you can indicate how your study helps you to develop in your job. Convince your boss that your studies are good for the organization. If your manager supports your plans, it will be easier to compromise between work and school. Maybe your boss is even willing to adjust your working hours so that you can better combine your work with school.
   • Weigh the pros and cons of talking to your supervisor. Some managers are not happy if you put a lot of time into a study. Try to estimate in advance how your manager will respond.

Method 4 of 5: Dealing with stress

1. Keep work and school separate. Don't worry about work when you are at school and vice versa. Focus on one thing at a time. Do not bring your textbooks and school notes to work, or bring your work to school. Pay attention to what you are doing at that moment. If you work hard at work, you shouldn't feel guilty about focusing on your schoolwork at school.
2. Take much needed breaks. Give yourself the chance to catch your breath so that you can get back to work with fresh courage. Take a detour. Read the newspaper. Make tea. Try to take a break every hour and a half or two. A break of 5 or 10 minutes is enough; with longer pauses you get out of your rhythm too much.
   • Keep your breaks from getting bogged down in endless distractions. You can just spend a few hours unnoticed by watching TV, going through your timeline on Facebook or having a chat with your neighbor. If you know that there are activities that make you forget the time quickly, avoid those activities until you are done with your work and your homework.
3. Stay active. Bicycle. Swim. Walk. A healthy lifestyle helps prevent stress. Physical exertion leads to relaxation, and you will find that work and school seem easier. Scientists have shown that regular aerobics can reduce stress, improve mood, sleep better and increase self-confidence.
4. Get plenty of sleep. Get plenty of sleep. Research shows that getting enough sleep is important for your memory, your mood and your ability to concentrate. And that in turn has a positive effect on the amount of stress you can handle. Staying up all night to study may be necessary once in a while, but don't make it a habit. If you have been getting too little sleep, take a 15 to 30 minute hare nap (power nap) to give your brain a boost.
5. Eat healthy. Eat enough fiber and carbohydrates. Scientists indicate that carbohydrates ensure the production of serotonin, a hormone that helps to relax. Eating a lot of fiber helps prevent cardiovascular disease. Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants to improve your immune system. Citrus fruits provide you with a lot of vitamin C. Carrots are a good source of the antioxidant beta-carotene. A balanced diet helps you achieve a healthier balance between school, work and private life.
   • Avoid fatty foods, too much coffee and sugar. Coffee often seems necessary, but make sure that you do not consume caffeine too late, because then you will sleep worse. Do you have trouble falling asleep? Then stop with coffee earlier in the day. Sugar seems to give you just as much energy, but it also causes an energy dip, just like other so-called fast carbohydrates. Instead, opt for complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, quinoa and oatmeal.

Method 5 of 5: Teach yourself the right way of thinking

1. Be realistic. You cannot do everything. Make sure you prioritize and don't get frustrated if you don't get everything you planned for the day. Stay positive and be grateful for the opportunity to generate income and to follow a study; two things that many people have to do without.
   • The combination of school and work is not for everyone. Be realistic and prioritize. Don't let school be at the expense of your income and the well-being of your family.
2. Remember why you are doing it. By following a study next to your job, you take on a challenge that many people do not dare to face. But you wouldn't do it if you weren't so motivated. Perhaps you work alongside your studies to pay for your studies, or you study alongside your work to move up. It doesn't matter what the reason is. Keep your goal in mind, even (or especially) if it all becomes too much for you.
3. Accept help from others. When you try to do it all on your own, it is infinitely more difficult. If you find yourself becoming increasingly irritable, avoiding social activities, becoming forgetful or anxious, talk to someone about it. Talk to your partner, your friends, or a coach or psychologist if necessary. You are really not the first for whom the stress becomes too much. Many schools and universities employ professionals that you can talk to if you run into this type of problem. The first step to success is knowing how to accept help.
4. Keep momentum. When you start something, finish it. Skipping a semester might sound like a good idea, but only if you really need to. For example in case of illness. If schoolwork is getting too much for you, choose to take fewer courses rather than do nothing at all for a semester. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing momentum and not returning to school at all.
5. Try to keep a diary. Keep track of what you want to do every day and what you have achieved. This will help you achieve your goals.
6. Celebrate big and small successes. Make sure you can measure your progress. For example, make a list on which you can check which courses you have taken. Record big and small successes in your diary. This will help you keep your goal in mind. When you overcome small or big obstacles, share what you have achieved with friends and family. A high mark for an exam, completing a course or obtaining your diploma. These are all moments you should celebrate to keep yourself motivated.
7. Know that it is possible! Sometimes it all seems like a lot, but remember that others have already done what you do and succeeded. What they can do, you can too.