Whether you’re in high school, college or university, student life can be hectic. You need to worry about keeping up with your course load and getting good grades while still maintaining a social life and participating in extracurricular activities. Throw a part-time job into the mix, and you’ve got a very full plate. While it may feel daunting to try and juggle all these commitments at once, there are plenty of effective strategies you can implement to make your life easier and stress-free. To get you started, here are three tips for balancing a part-time job with full-time study.

1. Manage Your Time

You’ve probably heard it a million times (and for good reason): time management is an important skill that will benefit you for the rest of your life. When it comes to finding that balance between part-time work and full-time study, time management will be your best friend.

From writing out to-do lists to creating visual schedules to eliminating distractions, there are several time management strategies you can follow. You can also try applying more specific formulaic theories and approaches when managing your time. For example, you could try the Pomodoro Technique, which recommends that you set a timer for 25-minute intervals during which you remain completely focused on your work. You take a short break between each interval to refresh and reset your mind before going back to work. 

2. Be Open and Transparent

If you’re taking on a part-time job in addition to your workload at school, be sure to keep all relevant parties in your life informed of this shift. Tell your boss at work what your school workload is like so they can tailor their expectations accordingly. Similarly, let your teachers and guidance counsellors know about your new work commitment. Usually, they’re incredibly understanding and supportive of students who take on part-time jobs to gain some autonomy or help fund their studies. In fact, they may even be able to make some jobs for teens recommendations, which will come in handy if you decide to move on from your current workplace.

3. Know When to Step Back

If you’ve taken on too much, there’s no shame in admitting it. There’s also no shame in cutting down a little bit wherever you can. Ask your manager if you can have fewer hours the following week or see if a coworker can cover a shift for you here and there. A key step in finding that perfect balance between part-time work with full-time study is to acknowledge when you’ve overreached and to delegate as needed. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you find your happy medium. Having a part-time job should be an added bonus to your life; it should never hinder from reaching your full academic potential or enjoying a social life.

Although it may sometimes feel like a challenge, finding the right balance between a part-time job and full-time schooling is absolutely possible. By properly managing your time, upholding transparent lines of communication and knowing when to cut down on your workload, you’ll ensure you don’t compromise on the quality of your academic or professional life.