Comments on: Work + School + Life = Impossible?

By: J David

J David — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:19:17 +0000

I couldn’t handle business school and life and blogging. I had to give up blogging (before I gave up on life…)

By: Lucy Osualeja

Lucy Osualeja — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:53:04 +0000

i run a weekend programme in the school and i work, most times i close late and when i got home and feel tired and couldn't read.

i will like you to advise me on wwhat steps to take cos they are vey important in my life.

best regards

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:50:45 +0000

I have a tech startup, I’m finishing a BS in Mechanical Engineering and I’m trying to have a life. Result: regular flares of Crohn’s Disease! AARG!

By: Sonya

Sonya — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:31:27 +0000

I just finished a masters while working full time and teaching part time. My key is to set a kitchen timer. I work in 15 minute increments, and then I set a reasonable amount of time to work every day. For discrete math I budgeted about 10 hours per week. Often I didn’t really need that much. I would make a hashmark for every 15 minute chunk I completed. The timer served two purposes – it allowed me to track my time, and it reminded me to stop and do something else if I was frustrated and hadn’t accomplished anything in the last 15 minutes. I think that’s truly the most valuable thing – especially with heavy computer science and math courses. There comes a point where you’re just spinning your wheels and sitting there for another 3 hours isn’t going to help. At that point sleep is infinitely more productive. The timer reminds you to stop as soon as you begin that cycle.

Good luck!

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:32:25 +0000

After spending my undergrad years trying to do too much, I decided to limit my work + classes + studying to 50 hours a week, and stick to it. The number may be different for others, but having a weekly time budget keeps things in perspective.

By: SK

SK — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:43:41 +0000

To me what's interesting is how I've stumbled onto many of the same time saving habits. For me the work week is 7am to 10pm. I work a normal full time job a 30 hour a week part time job and go to school full time at night. Any day I only have to work only one job I consider a day off. Here are a couple things that help me:

I can not remember the last time I watched tv. If there is something I really want to watch (which there's not much) I PVR it.

When studying, classical music keeps me on track and is less distracting (thanks Pandora).

30 minute bursts work wonders. Set the cell phone alarm and clean a room until it goes off.

Meal planning. Being way for most meals I eat alot of bag lunches. I am just starting to experiment with a grocery service. This way I can order premade meals for days I don't have time to prepare anything and cuts down shopping.

Sleep. Don't get behind or everything suffers. Schedule 'me' time.

By: craz

craz — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:19:48 +0000

This is pretty sad but I'm in high school. My school has more homework than the average school, I take 7 courses and there are 18 units in each course (each averaging 6-7 hours).

The thing is, a lot of people in the school can manage a decent social life and a job at the same time, whereas I'm all school, manage to squeeze in some social here or there but rarely, and have no job. I can't seem to make time for anything... It'd be great for you to write a post to end my troubles

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:40:32 +0000

You will always find people that can write a thesis, work three jobs and be the star of their soccer league, all at the same time. However, these people are rare (I think doctors belong in this category–somehow they get through medical school on no sleep).

But if this is not you, don’t try to force yourself to be one–it won’t work. If you’re a perfectionist this will hard to come to terms with. But I tend to believe what my mother said, who tried working, going to school and also raising us simultaneously: you can do two things ok at once but not three.

By: Julian Schrader

Julian Schrader — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:56:25 +0000

I’m about to finish school (~2 months from now) and therefore not working very much –”Â just the bit I manage to sneak in here and there ;-)

By: PA

PA — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:26:20 +0000

School is all day Mon & Wed, and half of Friday. I get home at 6pm on M & W and eat, relax for an hour or two, then tackle homework. No sleep until it's done.

Work 3 hours every morning, and do 12 hours on Tues and Thurs, plus 5 or 6 Friday and Sunday.

Saturday is homework and relaxation. And housecleaning and laundry.

And no matter what anyone says, sleep is more important than anything else.