TIPS TO BALANCE WORK AND STUDY AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

If you are a student studying abroad, your chances of working part-time to supplement your income are high – if not for survival. Kudos to you! For taking on this challenge of going to a foreign nation and building from level zero. However, balancing work and study is not easy as you must effectively manage your time, effort, and energy. 

So whether you’ve come because balancing work and study has become difficult, or because you want to learn before doing it, here are some methods to adopt:

1. Plan ahead.

You have to prioritize your studies. After all, you went through all that trouble to get better educational opportunities. University work requires full engagement and concentration! So, managing the time for completing your assignments, studying for tests, and other projects with due dates is a must

Use journals, create a to-do list, and use the apps that help with task management, anything to make you plan and make the planning process easier. Keeping track of your academic assignments will remind you to finish them on time and will provide you with a sense of accomplishment.

2. Be aware of your limits.

You may want to push your limits and do more than you can. And, pushing limits can be good to break out of your comfort zone, but it’s not feasible all the time, you can burn out. Granted that people have different burnout rates, so understand and know your limits. Do not stress more than you’re meant to.

Working should just be a way to make money and get more experience. Tell your boss what is going on. The best way to do this is to state in your job interview that you are studying before you start working.

3. Use your time wisely.

We’ve talked about managing time for work and study before, but that’s not all you need to manage time for-what about yourself?

To be able to work, study, and relax at the same time, you will need to make sure that the time you spend studying is time well spent. Study for short amounts of time with breaks in between to stay focused and avoid putting things off. Put away your phone and get some snacks. Getting rid of things that distract you and giving yourself rewards will help you finish your college work faster.

And if you do this, you’ll have more time to relax or, if you need to, work an extra shift. Don’t forget that you are a student! Make the most of your time in college, and set aside time to hang out with your friends and have fun.

4. Communicate with your employer

Ever heard – communication is the key to success in a relationship?

Yes, it applies here too! It is important to maintain a good relationship with your manager. Be straightforward about how you are handling things, your availability, any concerns you have, etc. It’s okay to say “no” if the work is too much for you. Your employer may be more accommodating than you realize and ask if there is any support available.

5. Remember why you are doing it

Put your goals where you can see them every day. When it gets too much, remember why you’re making sacrifices now. Focus on your goals, enjoy small wins, and remember this won’t last forever. Others have done it, so you can too. You wouldn’t work and go to school without a good cause.

Start using these tips today. Hopefully, these tips will make your life easier if you work and study at the same time.