Remembering to Balance Work, Life & School During the Holiday Season

How to successfully conquer all tasks during the holidays

Balancing work, life, and school during the holiday season can be stressful. We know you have so much on your plate with shopping for gifts, preparing meals, and getting in time for studying. Here are some tips to help keep your busy life organized and manageable during the holiday season.

Prioritize Your To-Do List

Creating a to-do list can be helpful to some. Individuals compile these lists either physically with a pen and paper or on a digital device.  When creating these lists, it’s helpful to rank them in order of completion date or highest to lowest priority. This process will help you create a weekly timeline for completing your to-do list.

Stick to a (Modified) Schedule

Sticking to a short-term, modified, and flexible schedule may offer relief during this busy time. If your work schedule changes as a result of Black Friday sales and pre-Christmas traffic, you’ll have to make some changes to your study schedule. Every minute counts, so plan to pack your study guides and reading materials for your lunch break or the bus ride to work. Setting realistic study goals will help you stay motivated to make it part of your (new, temporary) daily routine.

Shop Online

If you feel that shopping is another task that takes time away from family and studying, you can do some of your holiday shopping online. Many retailers are pushing their customers to shop online and offering incentives such as free shipping and gift wrapping upon request. We all know of Amazon, but stores such as Target, Walmart, and Costco are currently running online-exclusive sales to drum up online business.

Add Color To Your Planner

With work, school, and family activities going on, it’s easy to miss something. Use a calendar or planner to ensure you don’t miss important homework deadlines or family gatherings. Categorize events with different colors so you can see your schedule at a glance. Quickly seeing what days are full – or when you have time to fill – will allow you to prioritize your time and keep you on track.

Prepare Meals Ahead of Time

Do you find it hard to serve meals during the holiday season? Try preparing meals on the weekends, so you aren’t spending precious weekday time in the kitchen. There are numerous videos and quick tutorials on YouTube and TikTok that will help make this process a breeze. Another preparation secret is to prepare meals in bulk and freeze them, allowing you to pull already-cooked meals from the freezer as needed.

Ask For Help When You Need It

If you need some help, ask! At home, delegate responsibilities to others who can assist with the chores. At school, ask your instructors what specific topics to focus on or for study guides to make the most of your study time. Need help with time management or interviewing skills? Your Career Services advisor can help you put a career plan into place, so you have a roadmap to reaching your goals. Setting small goals won’t seem overwhelming and can help you balance your professional life and school with your personal and family responsibilities.

Take Time for Yourself

The holidays can get overwhelming with all the pressures we put on ourselves. Set aside time for a walk or meeting a friend to recharge your batteries. If you can’t get away, take any free moment to center your thoughts and clear your mind.

Remember that staying organized during the holiday season can help you remain calm and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Ayers Career College wishes all of its students and faculty a very Happy Holiday Season.

If you have beginning a new career on your holiday wish list, contact us for more information.