It used to be that you’d finish high school and quickly move in one of two directions….
…you either enrolled in a four-year college to work towards a degree, or you got a job right out of high school and never looked back. Enter the modern day, when more and more adults and other nontraditional students are heading back to school in hopes of pursuing a degree without sacrificing their careers or their family life.
A college degree is a huge commitment of time and effort. The time spent at college is not spent at one’s job, not spent with one’s family, and not spent engaging in other social activities. This type of time sacrifice may have very different implications for an 18-year-old just out of high school with no debt than for a 35-year-old parent of two children, with a house, car, and other financial responsibilities. The secret to heading back to school for many non-traditional students is finding school, work and life balance. This balance can also be found in other scenarios. Below are some thoughts on how to plan your schedule so work doesn’t take over. In addition to these suggestions, consulting a professional business advisor can help you make the necessary adjustments so that you can decide where to concentrate your energy on a day-to-day basis.
How to Find a Better Work and Life Balance
- Manage your time wisely — There are only so many hours in a day, and if you’re trying to juggle a career and a family while pursuing other activities, your time will be very limited. Start by making a schedule and penciling in priorities that can’t be changed. Once you have a basic framework, you can commit blocks of time to your work, your health, and your family.
- Set goals – It’s important to keep the big picture in mind when balancing your life. You will not hopefully not be so busy, and knowing that there is an end to your crazy schedule will make it easier to deal with. Think about what you want to accomplish this year and in the next five years. When you are unsure about which direction to take, simply revisiting your goals will help you get back on track.
- Be mindful of your technology usage – While it’s true that technology makes work easier, quicker, and more convenient for many, it also brings work into your personal life and opens the door for procrastination. Be smart about your device usage by setting time limits for online tasks, avoiding mindless Internet surfing, and turning off your device during personal time.