I am currently working full time at the same time as studying for the four ILCO exams to become a Law Clerk.
If you are a professional who is currently working full time and going to school, then you (like me), may struggle to find the balance between trying to work, study and have a social life.
Well since I have been doing it for a while now, here are my tips and tricks to make it easier:
- Spend Some Time Each Day on Your Course
Sometimes looking at the amount of studying you need to get through can be overwhelming. This is especially true after a long day of work where all you want to do is to kick back, relax and watch some Netflix.
My advice is to pick an achievable goal and stick to it.
For instance, one strategy that works for me is to study each day for an hour. This is a very achievable goal that also allows you the time for relaxing (and viewing of your favorite show on Netflix) that you might need after a long day of work.
- Set Goals for Each Week
It may be easier to get through the seemingly endless and overwhelming course material you have if you break it down into weekly goals.
Go ahead and grab a calendar and decide what chapters/material you can realistically get through every week. By doing this you set realistic short term goals that will help you stay motivated and keep you on track.
- Don’t be Hard on Yourself
I can’t stress this one enough.
We all get overwhelmed at times with life and work, and as a result, schoolwork can sometimes be put on the back burner. The worst thing you can do is be too hard on yourself for not keeping up with your course work.
We all fall behind sometimes and if you have, then its okay. Just relax and start where you last left off and keep going. Getting too stressed about being behind can easily lead you to keep putting off studying, putting you in a much worse of place than you were originally.
- Remind yourself of your goals
At the end of the day, this isn’t gong to last forever (it may feel like it, but it wont).
It may be a lot of work and stress but think about how good it will feel to be finished.
Remember, this isn’t forever, its just for now.
When you remind yourself that the grind is only for the short term, it can really motivate you to push through all the stress and studying.
- Be Kind to Yourself
When you are feeling too stressed and feel like the weight of work and school is crushing you, take some time to take care of yourself.
Take the night off and take a relaxing bath or give yourself a manicure. Do whatever you need to feel better and give your mental health the boost it needs.
Well these are my studying tips for all those out there who, like me, find it difficult to stay on top of school, work and life.
Yours very truly,
Leah Dickie, Legal Assistant