Grad school and work are challenging enough on their own, but they can feel especially overwhelming when tackled at the same time. Still, many grad school students have succeeded and even thrived under this setup—and you can as well.
These suggestions will help you balance grad school and work while keeping stress to a minimum:
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is the foundation for everything you accomplish during the day. Without a solid night of shuteye, everything from writing papers to interacting with colleagues will feel more burdensome.
A significant body of research reveals that insufficient sleep harms short-term memory, focus, and several other functions needed for optimal performance at school and in the workplace.
Beyond dedicating a solid seven hours to sleep, you can get more rest by implementing the following strategies:
Exercise
Another healthy practice that holds huge implications for your grades and your performance reviews? Physical activity. Like sleep, this essential is difficult to cram into an already packed day—but without it, everything else will suffer. Exercise improves your mood, your focus, and your general physical health. Thankfully, just half an hour a day will provide huge benefits, including better sleep.
When in doubt, a simple walk may be your best bet for exercising on a tight schedule. Depending on your current living situation, you may be able to walk or bike to work or school. Otherwise, a treadmill or elliptical machine can also help.
If you need to multi-task, find audiobook versions of grad school readings to listen to as you walk on a treadmill. Otherwise, a brief ten-minute break from studying will allow you to get much-needed exercise as you clear your head.
Keep Track of Deadlines
Deadline management is crucial in every walk of life, but it becomes a lot more challenging when you're juggling double the due dates. If you fail to keep on top of deadlines, you'll inevitably stress yourself out by turning in a report or assignment late—or by discovering your accidental procrastination at the last minute and then struggling to finish everything on an expedited timeline.
Busy grad students and professionals have long relied on the classic planner to stay on top of deadlines. This is helpful for some, especially as the physical act of writing important dates can provide a powerful memory boost. These days, however, many students find it easier to use mobile options such as Google Calendar to provide regular alerts. Consider setting a specific alert for checking relevant deadlines, as this will keep you aware of important dates.
Develop Time Management Strategies
Deadline awareness is just one element of time management. It's one thing to know when a paper or professional project is due, but mere awareness won't necessarily ensure that you allocate your time effectively.
Try these tips to manage your time during this busy season of life:
Don't Cram
No matter how well you manage your time (or how much you neglect this essential), the urge to cram can be overwhelming as exams approach. This tendency can lead you into a negative spiral of cramming and feeling anxious, all while you neglect other important areas of your life.
As a busy professional, you simply don't have time or energy for this approach—especially as ample research indicates that it doesn't work. Rather, you'll retain more by reviewing multiple times over a longer period. This is especially effective if you take a break and sleep on new material before resuming with a second study session. What's more, cramming significantly raises stress levels, making it almost impossible to focus on the task at hand.
Use Technology Wisely
Time management has always been a struggle for grad school students, but technology makes it that much more difficult. Smartphones and laptops hold the potential to enhance productivity, but they often have the opposite effect. Those stolen seconds on social media add up quickly.
Try these suggestions to transform your devices from time wasters to helpful study tools:
Combining grad school and work may be challenging, but few successes in life are more satisfying than simultaneously excelling in both areas. A few simple strategies can make all the difference, so don't hesitate to overhaul your approach to streamline your busy life.
One way to make it easier to balance life and school is to choose a flexible program. Geneva College has a number of programs designed with the needs of working adults in mind. Browse our graduate programs to find one that fits your needs and your schedule today!
For more information on how Geneva College can help you pursue your higher education goals, please phone us at 855-979-5563 or email admissions@geneva.edu.
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Oct 13, 2020In an era dominated by technology, the demand for cybersecurity professionals has increased significantly. Read here to learn about the M.S. in Cybersecurity program at Geneva!
Are you interested in continuing your education? Read here to learn how you can make a positive impact with a Master's in Counseling!
Are you interested in pursuing an MBA? Read here to learn about Geneva's MBA program!
Are you interested in earning a Master of Arts in Higher Education? Read here to learn about the program that Geneva offers!
Many students often have to balance their studies with a part-time or full-time job. There are several potential ways to help balance personal work life and school studies.
When you’re interested in how the mind and body both work, biopsychology could be the ideal undergraduate major for you. Biopsychology combines the study of biological processes with the study of behaviors, emotions, and other areas of psychology. This can help you understand how our brains and behaviors are connected. As a biopsychology student, you can expect to study genetics, adulthood, aging, biomedical ethics, cognition, and learning.
Are you wondering if graduate school might be right for you? Take a moment to consider these three questions...
A master’s degree allows you to advance your career, expand your knowledge, and develop skills. While in-person classes are the traditional way to earn this degree, online programs are also available. How is online school different than in-person school? With an online graduate degree program, you can earn your master’s degree from the comfort of home. Choosing an online school for your advanced degree offers other important advantages, as well. Keep the following in mind when deciding between in-person and online master’s degree programs.
When you’re thinking of continuing school to earn an advanced degree, Geneva College has a lot to offer. At Geneva, you’ll find several master’s degree programs to explore based on your educational goals and career path. Why is a master’s degree good? This advanced degree can provide you with some notable advantages in your career. When you choose a master’s degree program at Geneva, you’ll enjoy even more benefits. Keep the following in mind when you’re looking into options for earning your advanced degree.
How do you deal with stress in grad school? College can be a stressful time for many students, and grad school is no different. In fact, grad school might even be worse, thanks to the more intense academic pressures and (often) increased responsibilities outside the classroom.
Learn more about Geneva College.
Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.
© Geneva College | All rights reserved
