School hacks: 5 tips to juggle work, life and college

• No matter how busy you are with school, work and life, it’s important to build time into your schedule to rest and recharge.
• Working or studying more can actually be counterproductive, as research shows that overwork can fatigue our brains, leading to more mistakes and a higher risk of burnout.
• Making a to-do list, taking advantage of free time on the weekend and breaking schoolwork into bite-sized chunks are just a few tips to make juggling life’s responsibilities more manageable.
• University of Phoenix offers ways to help students save time on their education, such as credit for work and life experience and the ability to take one class at a time.

As the famous expression goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” It also makes him a burned-out boy. That’s true for all the Jills out there too.

It’s important to maximize your time and perhaps even multitask throughout the year on your way to earning a college degree. But it’s also important to take time for yourself, a move that seems counterintuitive when the crush of work, school and life deadlines is upon you.

“However, we are actually being counterproductive by not taking a few minutes to step away and reset our focus. Research has shown that when we work, work, work, our brain will get tired, and we make more mistakes.”

So, how do you get the most out of the time you have and still find a few minutes for you?

Mike Marticek, DBA, MBA, a University of Phoenix adjunct faculty member who teaches classes in information systems, value management and operational systems, has a few hacks students can follow. A self-described “systems guy,” Dr. Marticek says it’s important to have a plan and work it en route to a degree — especially if you’re juggling work, home, kids and school.

Here are his top five hacks for maximizing your time.

As basic as this tip sounds, a to-do list can be your best friend, according to an article at Study.com. Without one, you’re shooting in the dark. With one, you can see your list of responsibilities (even if it’s daunting) and prioritize according to due dates.

If your list is long, several items may belong on the back burner. And, because this is reality we’re talking about here, some of the activities on your list can be done when you’re tired. 

If you’re at work, and you have downtime or a long lunch break, use that time for homework — even if that means getting a running start on it rather than completing it.

Start by assessing what activities will get done and in what order. When is everything due? How complicated is each assignment? “Sometimes multitasking simply means the seamless shifting of gears from one thing to another rather than trying to do three things at once,” Dr. Marticek says. Efficiently using downtime can set you up for success, he advises.

Let’s face it: For most of us, Monday comes and it’s off to the races. Dr. Marticek recommends getting ready for the sprint by preparing most of your lunches and dinners — the kids’ school lunches too — on the weekend.

“This makes it so much easier during the week so that you can focus on other things,” he says.

While you’re at it, set up your calendar. “I find if I put things into my calendar on a Sunday for the whole week, I’m less stressed,” he says.

It’s tempting to look at the 80-page assignment your instructor dropped into your lap and panic that you’ll never get it done. As the one who gives those 80-page assignments, Dr. Marticek recommends breaking down the reading (or whatever the assignment is) into bite-size chunks.

“If you look at it that way, it’s much easier to digest,” he says.

This practice can lower stress for everyone in your family as you all learn to navigate daily commitments rather than panic over deadlines that are several weeks away.

Dr. Marticek ends where Dr. Neider began — with rest. It’s essential to unplug, even if just for a few minutes, every day. For his part, Dr. Marticek practices meditation. “It seems to help put me in a better mood,” he says. Relaxing music, exercise, a quick walk outside or simple breathing exercises can help reset your mind, he suggests.

If you absolutely have to do two things at once, Dr. Marticek recommends voice-dictating the opening paragraphs of a paper or another assignment while you’re walking. “Exercise is proven to stimulate our brains more. When you walk or run, your body is in a different state. You are more creative with your ideas,” he says.