How to Balance Work and School: Strategies and Tips

As a working professional, you are already busy — likely dedicating 40-plus hours every week to your job. Combine this with family responsibilities, health, and hobbies, and there doesn’t seem to be much time left over. Despite time constraints, many mid-career professionals choose to return to school and become  students. 

Earning an advanced degree can accelerate your professional and personal development and help you accelerate your career. Even if it might not seem like you have the time, it is possible to achieve a healthy school-life balance while pursuing an education. Consider the following strategies and tips for how to balance work and graduate school.

Communicate With Your Employer

If you are considering enrolling in a graduate program, talk with your employer about your plans and any potential work schedule adjustments or accommodations you anticipate needing. The development of your professional skills will benefit not only you but also your company. You might even be surprised to find out just how supportive your employer will be of your goals. In fact, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, about 78% of employers pay for skill development opportunities, and 48% offer tuition assistance as an employee benefit. 

Consider an Online Program

Although many programs accommodate working professionals with night and weekend classes, the demands of attending in-person sessions can still make it difficult to maintain a steady work-school-life balance. Online graduate programs — like the Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) here at Boston University (BU) — enable students to enroll, attend, and complete coursework from almost anywhere in the world. 

Online classes are typically offered in two formats: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous courses occur at a scheduled time, and everyone simultaneously attends live classroom sessions remotely. Asynchronous classes offer more flexibility, with lectures available to watch at your leisure and discussions taking place in online classroom forums. 

Pursuing a degree online provides flexible learning options that busy professionals can work into their schedules. While students attend classes and complete coursework online, these programs still offer quality education, opportunities for developing skills, networking opportunities, and real-world, hands-on lessons. 

Create a Schedule

When you have a lot to accomplish in a day, every minute counts. Thus, effective scheduling is key to managing your time while still keeping up with your professional work and your schoolwork. An effective schedule accomplishes two goals: prioritizing tasks and allotting enough time to complete them. 

When prioritizing tasks, make a list of everything you need to accomplish, and then order them from most to least urgent based on the deadline and importance. This will ensure you accomplish the tasks that must be done right away first and maximize any extra time to get ahead on less-urgent to-dos. 

Next, block out your time based on how long you think certain activities will take. Be realistic about how much time you will need and be sure to leave some room for unexpected events, breaks, and some downtime so you don’t burn out. 

While creating your schedule, reference copies of your course syllabi and make note of important dates (e.g., project deadlines and exams) on your calendar. Additionally, knowing what will be expected of you in a class will help you balance your schedule and priorities between upcoming work, school, and personal obligations. 

Manage Your Time

The efficient and productive use of time characterizes effective time management. When it comes to how to balance work and school, creating an optimal schedule provides you with a strategy for getting everything done, and practicing good time management enables you to execute the plan. To manage your time effectively:

• Minimize interruptions – Interruptions waste time. Even something as seemingly harmless as glancing at notifications on your phone for a few seconds can cost you hours. One study found that people require an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to regain focus on a task after being interrupted. Honor your schedule by minimizing interruptions. When you’re doing schoolwork, mute work and personal notifications (and vice versa). 
• Focus on one task at a time – When it comes to focusing on studying and completing assignments, attempting to multitask creates an environment overflowing with distractions and interruptions. Follow the list of priorities on your schedule, completing one task at a time before moving on to the next. 
• Create a dedicated workspace – Having a designated workspace that’s calm, quiet, peaceful, and free from distractions will help you focus on your school work — in turn boosting your overall efficiency. 
• Avoid procrastination – Stay ahead of your work and school deadlines to save yourself the stress of completing tasks and submitting work late. For some, this is easier said than done, but it goes a long way.
• Set boundaries – This can be difficult for students with families or active social lives, but it is crucial to set boundaries around your working time. Make sure that the people who are close to you understand the importance of your studies and support your educational goals. 

Set Realistic Goals

Taking on more work than you can handle or pressuring yourself to complete all of your coursework weeks before your deadlines will wear you out. Remember that pursuing an advanced degree — especially while working full time — is a marathon and not a sprint. So, set a reasonable pace for yourself that allows you to be productive, organized, happy, and healthy. 

Practice Self-Care

When your schedule is packed and you feel the weight of more responsibilities than you can count, self-care often falls to the bottom of the priority list. However, taking time to recharge and de-stress is vital to maintaining your energy, motivation, and mental health. Schedule recovery time every week (and even a little time every day) when you can do something to relax, unwind, or have fun. This downtime will help to fuel your working hours. 

In addition to taking care of your mental and emotional health, it’s critical to maintain your physical health when you have a demanding schedule. Support your brain and body with a nutritious diet and regular exercise. 

Lean on Your Support System

If you have decided to pursue an advanced degree, the people around you will hopefully be proud and ready to help. Remember to lean on whatever support system you have and let them know what you need. For instance, ask your partner to coordinate dinner if you need to finish writing a paper, or see if your close friend or family member can entertain your children for a few hours when you need to focus. 

Start Your Program: Apply to the Questrom School of Business Today

For today’s professionals, work-school and school-life balance is achievable. Seeking an affordable, flexible, 100% online MBA from a top business school like Boston University is a strong choice — where figuring out how to balance work and school doesn’t have to be out of reach. So, why wait? Invest in your future today. 

Ready to learn more about BU’s Online MBA program or to enroll and begin your first class? Reach out and request more information today. We’re here to answer your questions about studying online, leveling up your skills, and opening the doors to compelling career opportunities.