How to Balance Work & School: 7 Strategies

Managing personal and professional commitments while furthering your education can be difficult as a working professional. It requires balancing your coursework with job- and family-related responsibilities.

Fortunately, there are strategies to do it successfully. Here are seven to consider.

7 Strategies for Balancing Work and Study

1. Take an Online Course

You can pursue an abundance of learning opportunities as a working professional. While your employer may offer benefits like tuition reimbursement, the time commitment of attending classes can be challenging to manage.

Online courses help solve this problem and offer several benefits, including:

• Flexible learning options
• Affordability
• Networking opportunities
• Skills development

Online learning's flexibility is a major draw. The skills you obtain can help you get ahead at work without committing to full-time study.

Online courses come in two formats:

• Synchronous: You join a virtual classroom with other participants simultaneously—like an in-person class—with lessons focused on discussions and group activities.
• Asynchronous: You learn at your own pace with lectures and assignments available at any time. You may also have the opportunity to connect with fellow learners through platforms like the Harvard Business School Online Community.

When balancing education with work, asynchronous courses can provide flexibility that synchronous courses can't.

Related: 9 Tips for Taking an Online Course While Working Full-Time

2. Schedule Effectively

School and work require a lot of time and energy, but balancing them is possible. Effective scheduling is vital.

Prioritizing tasks based on urgency is one of the most effective methods to ensure timeliness. List all the tasks you must accomplish for each commitment, then break them into small, manageable chunks.

You can proactively stay on top of your workload by familiarizing yourself with your course’s syllabus, which outlines its objectives, topics, grading criteria, policies, and deadlines. Knowing what's expected of you can help you prioritize and schedule your assignments in advance.

3. Manage Your Time Well

Managing your time can help you stay on top of work and school while still having a life outside of them. Here are tips for managing your time effectively:

• Avoid procrastinating: Complete assignments before they’re due instead of waiting until the last minute. This is particularly important if you work full time. The last thing you want is to stress about deadlines after work.
• Own your work: Most online courses’ workloads and academic rigor are similar to in-person options. Take an active role in your work and be responsible for your progress.
• Establish a dedicated study space: Create an environment conducive to your learning.
• Remove distractions: Avoiding distractions is particularly important with a full-time job because your time is limited. Try not to multitask since it can negatively affect productivity.

Time management can be challenging, but it’s essential to balancing work and school.

4. Communicate with Your Employer

Openly communicating with your employer can enable them to better understand your needs and how to help you achieve your goals.

Your employer may also be able to assist in determining how much work you can realistically handle while enrolled in school. If your employer offers flexible working hours, adjust your schedule as needed, such as when you have exams or need extra time to complete assignments.

5. Stay Organized

Staying organized is key to balancing work and school. Tracking tasks and deadlines via a planner, calendar, or list can ensure that all your responsibilities are completed by their deadlines. Account for study time as well to avoid cramming at the last minute for an exam or assignment.

Being organized also means managing your materials. Make sure all class notes and important documents are backed up and stored somewhere easily accessible.

6. Practice Self-Care

It’s crucial to preserve your mental health and find time for self-care when juggling your commitments. Here are tips for maintaining a healthy balance when working and studying:

1. Create a schedule: In addition to work and school, fit personal time into your daily routine to prevent burnout. Relaxing and pursuing enjoyable activities can help you maintain your overall well-being and spend time with friends and family.
2. Use your time wisely: Overworking is detrimental to mental and physical health, so take short, regular breaks throughout your workday.
3. Establish boundaries: Set boundaries for how much time you're willing to spend on work and school to stay focused, lower your stress levels, and avoid working too hard.
4. Get enough sleep: Staying up late to study or finish work can negatively impact your focus and productivity. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need at least seven hours of sleep each night to function properly.
5. Set realistic goals: Setting achievable goals that don't put too much strain on your time and energy levels can enhance your motivation. For example, finishing a paper before the weekend is more achievable than completing a semester-long project a few weeks early.

By pursuing self-care, you can stay organized, productive, and healthy.

7. Know When to Stop

The biggest barrier to work-life balance is perfectionism. While it's important to ensure the quality of your work and assignments doesn't suffer, you must also know when to stop a task and move on.

Overfocusing on assignments can result in burnout. Be realistic about what you can accomplish and complete tasks at a reasonable pace, rather than trying to do too much in too little time.

Finding Success at Work and in School

With careful planning and preparation, you can successfully balance work and school. When selecting a course, it’s critical to find one that aligns with your job responsibilities, career goals, and personal interests.

Enrolling in an online course specifically designed to accommodate working professionals can go a long way toward striking an effective balance. For example, HBS Online's certificate courses are designed to help you obtain valuable in-demand skills while growing your career.

Are you ready to find the right online course for your career goals? Explore our online course catalog and download our free guide on how to advance your career with essential business skills.