Have you found your balance?

Do you sometimes feel as if you’re precariously poised on a tightrope high above a raging river – on the verge of losing your balance and being swept away helplessly?

Many a person who embarks on studies while working has found themselves in this position at some point after the initial excitement has worn off and the realities of combining study and work set in. Not to mention the challenges of having a family to look after as well!

With the advent of the NQF (National Qualifications Framework) and the access to workplace learning opportunities such as Learnerships (for example the National Certificate in Pharmacist Assistance), more and more South Africans find themselves burning the candle at both ends in order to improve their qualifications and future career prospects.

How can you effectively manage multiple responsibilities at home, work and in the community without guilt or regret or sure burnout?

Work-life balance is about effectively managing the juggling act between paid work and other activities that are important to us – including spending quality time with family, taking part in sport and recreation, volunteering or undertaking further study.

Although the thought of juggling work and studies may seem overwhelming at times, it is completely feasible with some planning and self-discipline – and the support and understanding of friends and family.

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.
William Penn

It will probably come as a surprise to our calendars, smart phones, and alarm clocks, but we do not control time. The best these tools can do is measure the time passing. All we can do is use time wisely by setting priorities.

Time Management Tips

Try using some of these useful time management tips to help you balance working and studying at the same time:

• Don’t be afraid to say no to people: The first step is to understand what you can handle realistically. Then, make a ruthless decision on whether or not you have time (and energy) to complete, and follow through with activities; social, academic or work-related. Don’t let people manipulate you into doing things, because you feel guilty about spending time on your own interests and development.
• Be honest about your time wasters. Add up how much time you waste daily; for example by watching television programmes that don’t add anything positive to your life. We may console ourselves by saying we are watching with the family, but is that really quality time? An hour spent helping your children with their homework or just playing with them means more than three hours just sitting in front of the television with them.
• Don’t procrastinate: You need to allow yourself plenty of time for both work and study assignments so as not to create too much stress in your life caused by cramming at the last minute. Even if the deadline for an assignment seems far away, start it immediately. You may just finish early and have one more item you can cross off your busy “to do” list. You will also have a buffer for an unexpected event.
• Make a schedule and stick to it: Map out your work and study schedule, as well as time for doing assignments. The key is to draw up a schedule, realistic enough to stick to and that allows you enough time to study properly. Set up a daily or weekly plan for yourself and make sure that you set aside time for your studies daily. Vary the study times to fit in with other commitments such as family, sports etc. Be aware, and accept, that your weekends are likely to be eaten into by at least some regular study. Depending on your commitments and need for sleep, early Saturday or Sunday mornings may be ideal, as this will allow you free time later on both days for family, religious observation, sport, friends, other activities etc. Or, you may find that it works better for you to wait until family members are asleep before you start that assignment. It very much depends on whether you’re a morning or evening person.
• Remember to sleep enough: If you don’t make time for enough sleep, you won’t function as effectively – causing unnecessary delays in both your work and study activities. While you may think that staying up late helps you get more done, it more often than not slows you down and causes stress. Taking proper care of yourself helps you perform at your best.
• Get yourself motivated by staying in contact with your peers. Use e-mail to share ideas and brainstorm responses to assignments. The pressures of studying while working can easily lead to feelings of demotivation.  Deliberate contact with your peers in the same boat, whether in person or electronically will motivate you. Make the most of technology to “cyber meet”. Occasionally, try to catch up before or after classes to put faces to the names of your fellow students.
• Set goals and reward yourself when you attain them – this is a great self-motivating habit. One great goal is to reward yourself with a little time off from studying, perhaps to have a coffee with a special friend!

• Set up a quiet place for study away from home-life distractions, such as television, phone calls or family members. Always keep your textbooks, notes, computer etc., in this one place for easy access and retrieval when needed. It saves you the stress of wondering after a long day at work where things are. If you don’t have the luxury of having your own study, identify a spot in your home where you always work and tell yourself and your family that when you are sitting in that particular spot at that particular time, it means that you are in study mode!
• Make time for play. All work and no play has never contributed to any creative balance! Play rejuvenates us. Get out there and enjoy yourself; continue a hobby, go hiking, see a movie, spend an afternoon lying on the lawn and looking at the clouds with the kids. These are precious moments and while you are playing, your mind is resting, but subconsciously assimilating and organising the work you’ve learned. Always schedule recreation time in your timetable.
• Enjoy the interaction between work and study. You may sometimes envy full-time students their ability to focus completely on their studies, but they are missing out on invaluable work experience. Already working provides added value to your study, by providing real-life insights and examples that may improve your understanding of the work you need to cover in your studies. In addition, work is providing you with the skills of prioritising, managing, balancing tasks, time-management, dealing with colleagues and customers, etc. Invaluable when compared to the lack of work experience of a full-time student!

So, as you balance up there on your tightrope, look ahead to the prize waiting for you on the other side and enjoy the adrenaline rush of getting there!

Article by Helene Strauss