Did you know that 1 in 4 high school students have a part-time job? If you are one of these students, you’ve got a lot on your plate!
Life can throw us some curveballs, and no two life circumstances are alike. There are many reasons you might find yourself needing or wanting to work while you’re still enrolled in High School, so how do you find the balance you need to succeed at both? Here are some tips.
1. Find a job that works with your school schedule
There are many employment opportunities out there that understand (and even support!) that students need to focus on their studies and arrange their schedule accordingly. It can take time to find the right job that will facilitate that balance between working and studying, but it's worth the wait. If your current employer isn’t willing to accommodate your school schedule, it may be time to explore other options.
2. Structure Your Time
It's easy to get caught up in planning around your work schedule, but that isn't always sustainable. A better option is to structure your time and include your work schedule as you do. That means ensuring you have dedicated time for schoolwork and rest, social, or family time. Use a calendar if it helps—one on your phone or a paper calendar if that works better for you—and block out the chunks of time you'll be devoting to studying, working, and making plans with friends or family.
Schedule time to study
It’s easy to let your homework slide if you end up working late or taking extra shifts. Protect your study time (and your sanity!) by scheduling your study time every day (or whatever works best with your school). Make it a habit and a routine, and you and your grades will thank you.
Schedule in personal time
Being a full-time student and a part-time employee can take up an awful lot of your time, but it’s also important to schedule time for you! That means time for friends, recreation, rest, and alone time as well. This may not occur naturally if you’re waiting for it to happen, so it’s a good idea to schedule personal time just like you’d schedule study time and your shifts at work. Put it in your calendar, and make sure others know when you are and aren’t going to be available.
3. Prioritize School
We know it’s easier said than done, but school needs to be your top priority. While your part-time job may provide you with much-needed income, your education will prepare you for and unlock the doors in your future that will lead to a lifetime of opportunity. If you find that your grades are starting to slip due to your work schedule or the stress of performing at work, you will need to re-evaluate your commitments so that you can put your education first.
Prioritizing school can look like only taking shifts during hours you're not in school, not taking on too many hours, and even saying no to switching shifts or working extra if doing so would cut into your homework time. It's easy to get caught up in taking on more work in order to help your coworkers or get some extra cash, so be mindful of the hours you're working and how well you're managing school.
4. Take care of yourself
We already mentioned scheduling time for friends, recreation, and downtime, but don’t neglect the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, eating well, and exercising. You won’t perform well at work or school if you are exhausted and depleted from a lack of sleep, good food, or proper exercise. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s the time that it takes to be your very best, so you can do your very best.
Working a part-time job and attending high school can be challenging, but it can certainly be done when you set good boundaries and schedule your time accordingly. One of the great things about attending an online school is that there is more flexibility in your schedule. If you are looking for online school options that may fit in better with your life and your situation, we invite you to learn more about ICON!
Are you an Idaho resident and looking to get ahead or continue your high school education while working? Enroll in tuition-free online school with ICON.
