Imagine for a moment that it is Friday. You are sitting at your desk, and the time finally changes from 4:59 to 5:00 p.m. Finally, after a long week at work you take a deep breath and exhale. As you pack things up to head out for the weekend, your head slowly drops, and you let out another exhale. However, this time it’s a different type of exhale. It’s long. It’s quiet. It carries the weight of a slight annoyance as you remember that you have homework due on Monday at midnight.
With the fall semester fast approaching, back to school takes on a different meaning when you are both clocking in for work and stepping into the classroom. Taking on dual identities, employee and student, requires time, courage, dedication, and commitment. As you can imagine, taking on two roles can become a balancing act that is natural for some and not so natural for others. With the Journal of American College Health reporting that 33.9% of students experience stress, establishing a plan can become key in having a strong start to the new school year. Here are 3 things to consider to get things moving along, and keep stress to a minimum and manage things to come.
Time Management
One of the bigger things you can do to impact the stress levels that you could experience as an employee and student is to focus on time management. You want to know where your time is being spent right now. Ask yourself a few questions. What were you doing right before you started reading this article? Did you feel that the time in your day has been well-managed so far? Are you multitasking? Simple questions like these are a quick way to tune into how well your time is structured. As a university employee, CredibleMind is a free resource to find helpful strategies while getting things figured out.
Stress Management
Focusing on stress management provides an opportunity to recognize when you may need to switch things up, provide a better understanding of what is causing stress and how it impacts you. There are several university resources that are easy to tap into when it comes to stress. ComPsych’s website guidanceresources.com offers free virtual groups called huddles on topics such as mood management, mindfulness practice, and relaxation techniques. If you are looking for other resources through Life & Work Connections, our calendar for therapy dog visits or workshops on self-care, stress management in difficult times, or burnout might be a good fit for you.
Self-Care
Making self-care a priority throughout your journey as an employee and student can be extremely beneficial. As you make time for work and school, make sure caring for yourself is included. Remember this isn’t about making things perfect or finding the perfect way of doing things. This is about establishing a sense of balance so that you have a baseline to return to when life feels hectic.
A starting point is taking a free 3-minute mental health check-in assessment. This will let you know how well you are doing or adjusting as the semester progresses. Once you have completed the assessment, consider prepping for the year by filling out the Self-Care Car activity. As you work through this 10-minute exercise, you can develop a self-care plan to help you prioritize yourself on your calendar.
Whether you are finishing your degree or starting your next one, working while continuing your education is commendable. As you adjust to how the next semester unfolds, remember that an array of supports are available to you when you are ready.