Trying to manage all the demands of work, raising a family and going to school is not an easy task, but it is possible. Students who work like you can really have it all! Students’ time management skills are your secret weapon for daily survival and success in achieving 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 of the game as a hardworking student.

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

1. Set achievable goals and set priorities.
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 that it can be done.

1 – Set achievable 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 load of classes into your schedule, start with just 1 or 2 classes per semester and work your way from there.
• Once you know how much you can handle with the school, you can try adding more to your schedule.

A good tip is to divide a large goal into several smaller goals that are easier to manage.

1. First, write down the goals.
2. Then take note of the progress you’ve made as each goal on your list is checked; This will increase your confidence.

This first time management tip for students: “Set achievable goals and set priorities.“- is the most important. Once you have mastered this skill, the remaining 9 tips should be easy to put into practice.

2 – Create a support system.

• Get buy-in 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 are 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 working students who have similar daily obligations. Just make sure you don’t alienate existing friends or family. You will not believe how much this support will help you in your search for a new career.

3 – Find a job that suits 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 work, it will be easier to take time off and switch shifts to fit 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 reliable daycare.

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

• Public and private nurseries
• Preschoolers
• Nursery at home
• Parental compensation
• Babysitter 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, find out what can be shuffled and what should stick around.
• The time between work and family obligations can be used to study and do 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 hardworking student, you must stay organized in all aspects of your life. You will notice that when your spaces are organized, your thoughts follow suit. Knowing where everything is at any given moment 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 should be updated immediately. This is especially important at the beginning 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 about preparing and making every minute count. For example, use the precious time before going to sleep to:

• Lay out the clothes
• Pack lunches and backpacks
• Prepare keys, coats and shoes (appropriate for the weather)
• Prepare the coffee to prepare
• Bath
• Deciding on a breakfast menu

This will save you precious time in the morning and ensure that 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 help you around the house and lighten your load a bit. Make sure everyone contributes to the family and has a job that they can actually do. By doing this, you will teach 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 returning parent, relieving stress is just as important as keeping it at bay.
• Take breaks often. Take a night off from study 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 walk.
• Remind yourself why you are doing this and reward yourself for your hard work and accomplishments.
• Enjoy the little things that always made you happy and incorporate them into your daily activities.

10 – Stay focused and know it can be done.

Concentrate on the topic at hand. Manage one task at a time and think about nothing else.

• If you are with the family, stay with the family and do not balance the checkbook.
• If you’re in school, focus on your assignments and put job responsibilities on hold.
• When preparing meals, don’t worry about who brings the children to your activities.

Remember why you’re doing all of this: Small sacrifices can pay off big. 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 it successfully. If they can do it, you can too! It just takes a little commitment and a lot of momentum. Find a vocational school near you today and start taking advantage of the benefits of convenience.