A Day in the Life of a College Student: Juggling Work, School, Priorities, and Self Care

A few ways to balance a busy life

Prioritizing and Planning Ahead

Katelyn’s planner — both handwritten and online — is her go-to resource for balancing her work and school schedule. She even pencils in get-togethers with friends and phone calls to catch up with her mom. Using a planner or online calendar can help keep track of homework, work schedules, and deadlines. By setting reminders, she makes sure nothing slips through the cracks. 
Katelyn is also a stickler about starting projects early to prevent last-minute stress and give her enough time to do her best. At the start of each class, she scans the syllabus to see which assignments she can start early — like research for a presentation or reading ahead in the textbook. If a professor doesn’t give out a full semester’s syllabus, Katelyn sometimes asks if she can get a head start on any upcoming assignments. Checking off homework early gives her more time to focus on work during busy weeks.
With a solid plan in place, you can manage everything to decrease stress, too.

Keeping an Open Line of Communication

After a few sticky situations, Katelyn learned that communicating with professors and employers is an important part of balancing work and school. Because her job at the coffee shop has shifts at all hours, she makes her weekly availability known to her boss and asks for her work schedules as early as possible. Katelyn’s boss employs quite a few college students from the U, so she is happy to create a work schedule around classes and homework. 
During extra busy weeks, Katelyn makes sure to chat with professors if an extension is necessary, or her boss if she needs time off to focus on school.

Using Time Wisely

Katelyn always carries her backpack with her and uses gaps between classes to do homework or review her notes before an exam. Also, because she commutes to and from home, work, and school on the bus, she often listens to class reading materials on audiobooks, if available.

By maximizing these in-between moments, you can work ahead in class while commuting, too.

Making Time for Self Care

When she can, Katelyn makes sure to sleep, eat healthy, and exercise at the on-campus gym to keep her energy levels up, which helps her stay focused and productive during the day. While she said that working hard is important because she wants to get good grades and earn money for grad school, she knows overworking herself can lead to burnout.
Katelyn’s mom always taught her that knowing her limits and taking breaks will help her recharge and stay motivated. With self-care, she can do better in both school and work without sacrificing her physical or mental health. Prioritizing her well-being helps Katelyn focus on what truly matters.

Seeking Support and Using Campus Resources

Katelyn knows that everyone needs help sometimes. If she is struggling to get things done or to understand a certain subject, she gets in touch with her academic advisor or tutoring services. She said that she also regularly sees a therapist to help her stay in touch with her emotions and prevent burnout.

Because she spent time last summer researching scholarships, Katelyn doesn’t stress about money as much as she did last year. She is also currently looking into a work-study program that will allow her to earn money and college credit — helping her work smarter instead of harder.

Conclusion

Successfully balancing work and school takes effort, but with the right approach, it is possible. By being mindful and planning ahead, Katelyn stays on top of everything without feeling overwhelmed. Remember, it’s not just about getting through your to-do list — it’s about maintaining a healthy balance that allows you to thrive in both your education and career. Katelyn recommends that all students stay organized, be proactive, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You’ve got this!