Tips for Grads: A new semester, a new work-life balance
Personal and Interpersonal Effectiveness
Being in online courses without frequent face-to-face reminders, you’ll need to make sure you stay motivated and on top of your deadlines in your academic, professional, and personal life this semester. To help you be successful in the coming months, try implementing these quick tips:
- Create calendar reminders. Look ahead in your syllabus, and create calendar events on your phone so you get a reminder every time you have an assignment due. Treat your coursework like you would treat a deadline for an important work presentation and schedule time to work on it. While you’re at it, don’t forget to block out some time for yourself, too.
- Manage your professional life. If you know of times when your professional and academic lives will clash this semester, sit down with your boss to discuss if there is any work flexibility to concentrate on your studies. Come prepared to the meeting with how the skills you gain will be beneficial and different ideas about how to stay on top of your work. If you are looking for work, check to see if employers offer flexible working hours for employees taking courses.
- Strengthen support relationships. Talk to friends and family about your coursework to help them understand that you will have additional commitments this semester. Try coordinating with your family and friends to manage appointments or other events going on in your life.
- Set realistic expectations. Focus on making progress in class and your personal life rather than being perfect on every assignment or life commitment. Do the best you can by setting smaller or shorter, more attainable goals.