Trying to handle all the demands of work, raising a family, and going to school is not an easy task, but it is possible. Working students like you really can have it all! Students’ time management skills are your secret weapon for daily survival and success in reaching your goal!

Working students have many responsibilities that take up most of their time; But does that mean you’ve given up on your dream of one day having the rewarding career you’ve always envisioned? I hope not. Read on to find out how to get ahead in the game as a working student.

Follow these ten tips to make working, raising a family, and going to school manageable:

1. Set attainable goals and prioritize.
2. Create a support system.
3. Find a job that fits your school schedule.
4. Find a reliable daycare.
5. Make a schedule, but be flexible.
6. Stay organized.
7. Manage your time well.
8. Delegate household responsibilities.
9. Control stress levels.
10. Stay focused and know what can be done.

1 – Set attainable goals and prioritize.

Choose realistic goals and stay focused by prioritizing what is most important to you and your desired goal.

• Every decision you make should depend on your actual abilities. For example, if you can’t fit a full class load into your schedule, start with just 1-2 classes per semester and go from there.
• Once you know how much you can handle with school, you can try adding more to your schedule.

A good tip is to break a big goal down into several smaller goals that are easier to manage.

1. First, write goals.
2. Then take note of the progress you’ve made as you check off each goal on your list; this will boost your confidence.

This first time management tip for students: “Set attainable goals and prioritize.” – is the most important. Once you master this skill, the remaining 9 tips should be easy to put into practice.

2 – Create a support system.

• Get support from your existing support group: Discuss your decision to go back to school with your employer, family and friends. Make sure they understand why you’re doing it and that you, a working student, will need their help along the way.
• Reach out to your new support group at school: use your school counselors, join a study group, meet other students who work and have similar daily obligations. Just make sure you don’t alienate any existing friends or family. You won’t believe how much this support will help you in your search for a new career.

3 – Find a job that fits your school schedule.

Find a flexible job because school is your priority now.

If there are other people who can do what you do at your job, it will be easier to take time off and trade shifts to work around your school schedule.

Look for jobs at the school you attend, at your child’s daycare, or maybe something you can do from home. If your employer doesn’t understand, find a new one.

4 – Find a trustworthy nursery.

Decide which form of child care will work best for you and schedule a meeting with them. Once you’ve chosen your fix, find some backup sources in case anything changes. There are many options for reliable child care, such as:

• Public and private nurseries
• preschoolers
• home daycare
• parent compensation
• babysitting pools
• Members of the family
• babysitters

5 – Make a schedule, but be flexible.

If you haven’t already, make a schedule.

• This schedule should be at least somewhat flexible and contain all the required activities of your day.
• Once you have everything in writing and can see it from a better perspective, figure out what can be shuffled and what should stay.
• The time between work and family obligations can be used for study and homework.

Now that your schedule is complete, don’t forget to communicate your daily obligations to your family, employer, and friends. Once everyone knows what to expect from their time, things should run smoothly.

6 – Stay organized.

• To be successful as a working student, you must stay organized in all aspects of your life. You will notice that when your spaces are organized, your thoughts do the same. Knowing where everything is at any given time will also save you valuable time that you can spend on more important tasks.
• Keep your schedule up to date. Any changes that need to be made must be updated immediately. This is especially important at the start of a new semester, when class schedules tend to change and new arrangements need to be made.

7 – Manage your time well.

Successful student time management is all about preparing and making every minute count. For example, use the precious time before you go to sleep to:

• lay out the clothes
• Pack lunches and backpacks.
• Lay out keys, coats, and shoes (appropriate for the weather)
• Prepare the coffee to brew
• taking a shower
• Deciding on a breakfast menu

This will save you precious time in the morning and ensure you won’t be late for anything.

8 – Delegate household responsibilities.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate! If you have children over the age of 4, they can probably lend a hand around the house and lighten your load a bit. Make sure everyone contributes to the family and has a job they can really do. By doing this, you will be teaching your children valuable skills for living independently in the future. And don’t forget to use your support system.

9- Control stress levels.

• Keep stress under control. For a working student or a parent going back to school, relieving stress is just as important as keeping it at bay.
• Take breaks often. Take a night off from studying and plan something fun to do with family, friends, or on your own.
• Make sure you take time each day to do at least one thing you enjoy, like reading for pleasure.
• Stretch, exercise or meditate. This can be as simple as taking a short walk.
• Remind yourself why you’re doing this and reward yourself for your hard work and accomplishments.
• Enjoy the little things that always made you happy and incorporate them into daily activities.

10 – Keep focused and know what can be done.

Focus on the topic at hand. Manage one task at a time and don’t think about anything else.

• If you’re with family, stay with family and avoid balancing the checkbook.
• If you’re in school, focus on your homework and put work responsibilities on hold.
• When preparing meals, don’t worry about who brings the kids to their activities.

Remember why you’re doing all of this: small sacrifices can lead to big rewards. Try not to be too hard on yourself if everything doesn’t go as planned; This is life.

Know that many people make the decision to go back to school every day and do so successfully. If they can do it, so can you! It just takes a little commitment and a lot of drive. Find a vocational school near you today and start reaping the benefits of convenience.