Tips for a Healthy Balance in Work and Study

Holding a job while studying is the reality for a lot of students. With the current economy and the rising cost of living, being a working student has become almost a requirement for anyone interested in attending higher education, even with grants, financial aid, loans, or parental help to cover the cost of tuition. At SPSCC we want to help set students up for success, so here are some tips and resources from Mental Health Counselors and Peer Mentors to help you be your best while working and studying!

 Responsibility

Juggling different roles is difficult, Ross Artwohl, one of SPSCC’s mental health counselors who tailor makes his care to the needs of the students, shares that – “Studies reveal that 3 major life roles is the healthy limit for most humans. [When more pressure is added beyond this, students tend to experience stress-related symptoms.]” Humans can only handle so many different responsibilities; being a full-time student, a parent, and an employee is already a lot to handle, and adding another source of pressure onto that is too much for most people to handle. Difficult decisions may need to be made to determine what roles to decrease or eliminate from your schedule and what needs to be changed to accommodate your core responsibilities.

 Studying Environment

When you are studying at home your brain is not only processing your study material but also the notifications on your phone, the gentle hum from your computer, or the sound of your other housemates talking in the other room. Sally Sharbaugh, another one of SPSCC’s mental health counselors who advocates for mindfulness and helping students uncover their own cognitive resiliency, put it like this, “humans underestimate the power of what is called ‘environmental cuing,’ how the environment shapes and influences our behaviors, and instead rely on will-power.” Environmental cueing is simply the brain taking in the environment, and reacting accordingly to what it sees. A student may begin studying at home in their room and find themselves getting distracted. To remedy this, try studying in places other than at home or in your room. The Library ,Building 22 on Campus, is a wonderful, quiet place filled with plenty of good sources and tutoring services available to use. There’s also the Student Union Building, Building 27, which has plenty of seats for studying as well.

Social Media

Social media apps like Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are all designed with engagement and attention grabbing in mind. A team of psychologists, marketers, and the best graphic designers in the business are tasked with keeping their audience  online and engaged with algorithms designed to cater to your specific interests. Mr. Artwohl explains, “It has been said that the advent of social media is analogous to “itching powder” sprinkled on everyone. People may “itch” to change their attention rapidly and that makes it hard to focus for extended periods as is required by school or work.” A lot of  individuals find themselves distracted from studying or homework by their phones or tablets, and that is normal, social media companies are very clever in how they get and keep their users engaged. Mr. Artwohl recommends reading this article on how to control your technology usage and maintain focus.

Clear communication with employers

Learning to say no, or to ask questions when needed, is a vital skill to have when you are a student and have a job. An example Ms. Sharbaugh gave was that, “It can be challenging to tell an employer “no” when asked to pick up an extra shift at work. I know some students who started working part-time then, because of staffing shortages, were asked to take extra shifts and then before they knew it they were working 40 hours a week.” Don’t let yourself be trapped like that, set boundaries and stick to them.

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize

You can’t do everything all at once, you need to prioritize what comes first and what can be held off until later. Mr. Artwohl says that, “if one has more than three major roles it is often important to be very intentional about priority tasks in each role and then neglect the task of lower priority. This means you may have to fulfill a task 80% rather than 100%. In reference to this approach is the aphorism, ‘perfect is the enemy of the good.’” Multitasking is hard, and in some cases, just getting something done is more important than if it’s perfect.

Your schedule is your friend

Try to plan out your day. Dedicate a time frame for school or work each day and stick to it. One of SPSCC’s Peer Mentors, shares that they dedicate 2 hours in the morning for work, 2 hours for homework and classes, 5 hours for Peer Mentor work, then another 2 hours of homework at home. Consistency is a blessing to your mind when you can plan around a stable schedule. While studying or working, make sure to budget in time for a meal, food is fuel!

Take care of yourself, use your resources

You are the only you that exists, so you have to take care of yourself. That candy may be easy to eat and within reach but it gives you no substantial energy. Instead try finishing leftovers from the fridge, eating some greens or making something from the fridge that can be turned into something delicious and nutritious. Keep water close at all times, whether in a reusable water bottle or a modest cup, it’s always good to have water nearby. The Peer Mentor we talked with advocates for the many resources available on campus. “Use your resources. Even when you are always booked, make time to find a tutor and speak with your professors. Ask questions to your professors while you have them there present. It helps to write down all your questions/comments on a piece of paper the day prior and ask them when you physically see them.” Don’t fall behind, at SPSCC we have the tutoring center, grab and go breakfast, and mental health counseling. There are a vast number of services and benefits for students on and off campus, don’t be afraid to use them!

If you’re an online student then email your professors questions, attend their office hours if they have them, and be an active student in class.

SPSCC is here to help you thrive in your academic career. The first step to getting help is reaching out. Everyone is here to help you succeed.