Managing Your Work and School Schedules Together
Whoever said “college is the best time of your life!” probably wasn’t working 20+ hours a week while taking a crazy amount of college hours.
Like, thanks for the input, but I’m currently running on cold brew and pure anxiety, so let’s chat about reality for a sec.
I spent my college years juggling computer science, math (because apparently I hate myself?), and running a business. Did I do it perfectly? Absolutely not. There were weeks where I showed up to class in the same hoodie three days in a row and honestly couldn’t tell you if I’d eaten a real meal or just survived on vending machine snacks and the free coffee at the library.
I actually have a vivid memory of eating m&ms for lunch in computer science. Did I find the package on the floor of my car? Why, yes. Yes, I did.
But I figured some stuff out. And since you’re here reading this instead of having a breakdown in your car in the parking lot (been there, it’s a whole vibe), let me share what actually helps.
The thing nobody tells you
Working while going to school isn’t just about “time management” – it’s about energy management.
You can have the most color-coded planner in the world, but if you’re running on four hours of sleep and forgot to eat lunch, you’re gonna crash. Hard.
So before we get into the tactical stuff, can we just agree that you’re doing something really hard? Objectively difficult. You’re basically living two full lives at once. Give yourself some credit. Seriously.
Step 1: Get everything in one place (I’m begging you)
First things first – you need ONE calendar. Not your work schedule on a piece of paper, your class schedule in your head, and your assignment due dates on seventeen different sticky notes.
One. Calendar.
I don’t care if it’s Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, a paper planner, or a series of increasingly frantic voice memos to yourself. Pick something and put EVERYTHING there:
Work shifts
Class times
Assignment due dates
Exam dates
When you need to eat (yes, seriously)
Sleep (we’ll get there)
Because here’s what happens when you don’t: You accidentally schedule yourself to work during your Tuesday lab.
Or you forget you have a shift and make plans with friends.
Or you realize at 10pm that you have both a paper due and an opening shift tomorrow and you simply do not have enough hours to make that math work.
It happens to everyone. But you’ve gotta make a change so it doesn’t keep happening.
Step 2: Communicate with your boss or manager
Got midterms coming up? Tell them early if that affects your schedule. Need to shift a shift because you have a group project meeting? Ask as soon as you know.
Most places would rather work with you so don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
And if your workplace is NOT cool with you being a student? Bestie, there are other jobs.
I do think there’s a balance of responsibilities and sometimes you have to do that harder thing to fulfill what you said you’d do. Some key things to keep in mind that help: no whining, no complaining.
Just communicate clearly. It’s okay to be a human and for things to change.
Reminder: ask off for your upcoming trip or schedule change.
Step 3: Block out study time like it’s a shift
This is where I messed up for way too long. I’d look at my schedule and think “okay I’m off work Tuesday afternoon, I’ll study then!” And then Tuesday would come and I’d be tired and feel like I mentally needed a break.
I probably did. I should have built that into my calendar.
Which brings me to…
Treating study time like a work shift.
It goes in the calendar with a start and end time. “Study for CS exam: 2-5pm.” And then I’d actually do it.
Does this make me sound like a robot? Maybe. But you know what? Robots get stuff done. And also I’d reward myself with good snacks, so really I’m a robot that runs on chocolate and iced coffee.
Plan your mental breaks too so you don’t avoid studying.
Step 4: Find the dead zones and use them
Okay this sounds dramatic but hear me out. You’ve got these little pockets of time scattered through your day, right? 45 minutes between class and work. Your lunch break. That weird two-hour gap on Thursdays.
These are GOLD.
I kept a running list of “small tasks” – things that took 15-30 minutes. Reading a chapter, reviewing flashcards, responding to discussion posts, starting an outline. Then whenever I had a random pocket of time, I’d knock one out.
Sure, it’s not ideal. Yeah, I’d rather be getting coffee with friends or staring out a car window with my hand riding the wind like I’m in a music video. But getting small stuff done in these gaps means you’re not drowning when you actually do have free time.
Step 5: Learn to say no (this one was hard)
Here’s a fun story: During my sophomore year, I was taking 21 credits, working 18 hours a week, running my business, getting married and trying to win the robot competition. I thought I was invincible.
Narrator: She was not invincible.
I lasted a few weeks before I realized something had to give. So I dropped a class, took 18 hours and a deep breath.
You cannot do everything. I’m sorry, I wish that wasn’t true, but it is. Something’s gotta give.
So look at your schedule and be real with yourself. What’s actually important? What’s just making you miserable? You’re allowed to let things go.
Step 6: Protect your sleep like it’s your phone screen
I know, I KNOW. You’re gonna be like “but I need to stay up to finish this paper!” And listen, I’ve been there. I’ve pulled all-nighters. I’ve functioned on three hours of sleep.
Or no sleep.
But here’s what I learned: You can’t actually pour from an empty cup, and running on no sleep is the fastest way to make that cup completely dry.
The thing is that it’s bound to happen once but this can’t be your plan because it is not beneficial to you in the long run.
I wish I had started treating 7 hours of sleep like a non-negotiable meeting at the time. Now? It’s in my calendar. If something’s gonna prevent me from getting it, I need to figure out a different plan.
And yeah, sometimes you can’t. Sometimes life happens and you’re gonna have a rough night. But it can’t be every night. Your brain literally needs rest to function. Your body needs it to not fall apart.
Plus, trying to study when you’re exhausted is like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it. You’re just wasting time at that point. Might as well sleep and actually retain the information later.
Step 7: Build in fun (yes, this is mandatory)
This might sound wild when you’re trying to balance work and school, but you NEED to do things you enjoy. Not “productive” things. Not “networking” things. Just… fun.
For me, it was a long drive. Windows down, music loud.
Or binge-watching a favorite show with my (now) husband, Isaac
Maybe for you it’s gaming, or baking, or going on random drives with music way too loud, or teaching yourself guitar, or whatever makes you feel like a person and not just a student-employee robot.
Schedule it. Seriously. Put “do something fun” on your calendar like it’s a shift. Because if you don’t, you’ll keep putting it off until you’re so burned out that you can’t even enjoy it anymore.
Step 8: Accept that some days will be a mess
Here’s the thing they don’t tell you: You’re not gonna do this perfectly.
You’re going to have to apologize, own up to your mistakes and need some grace.
Some days you’re gonna survive entirely on coffee and whatever snacks you can shove in your backpack.
And that’s okay.
I had this idea in my head that I needed to be this perfect student with perfect grades who was also an amazing employee who never made mistakes. It’s not that fun.
The truth? Nobody’s perfect. Your professors aren’t. Your boss isn’t. That person on Instagram who looks like they have it all together isn’t perfect either.
You’re gonna mess up. You’re gonna drop a ball sometimes. And that doesn’t make you a failure – it makes you human.
The real secret
You wanna know what actually got me through? It wasn’t the perfect schedule or the productivity hacks.
It was being nice to myself.
Like, genuinely. When I messed up, instead of spiraling into “I’m terrible at everything,” I started saying “Okay, that didn’t go great, what can I do differently next time?”
When I was tired, instead of pushing through until I collapsed, I’d take a break. Make some coffee. Text a friend. Sit in my car and just breathe for five minutes. Sing it out.
You’re gonna be okay
Will it be perfect? Nope. Will you have moments where you’re sitting in your car eating gas station sushi wondering how you got here? Probably. Will you make it through? Absolutely.
Maybe skip gas station sushi though unless someone has a strong recommendation for a good place?
You’ve got this. And on the days when it doesn’t feel like it? That’s what coffee and encouraging friends and spontaneous car rides with the windows down are for.
Now go look at your calendar, block out some sleep, and maybe eat something that isn’t from a vending machine.
But also vending machine snacks are valid. No judgment here.
