How To Study While Holding Down A Job

Photo by Alex Samuels on Unsplash

Each year, many people choose to study alongside their full-time jobs and family commitments. It’s no easy task, but it can be done with a lot of hard work and some clever planning. 

No student WANTS to work while trying to balance their studies, but it's a must for most people who don't have wealth to fall back on. They need to work to pay for food, daily living expenses, their costs for Clubhouse UCONN Student Living - all of the essential living costs need to be paid for somehow. If you consider that you have all these costs ahead, working is going to help you to manage them better - even when you'd rather not! Working as a student may feel overwhelming, but with the right organisation you're going to be able to do both and do them well. You won't be completely splitting your attention, either, not when you find the right role to balance your studies and your commitment to earning some cash. So, how can you study while holding down a job and not tear your hair out? Let's take a look!

Look at the big picture, then break it down

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as you think about the months and years of study ahead of you. While you should always keep your goal in your mind, to motivate you, the only way you will be able to achieve it is to start breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. What do you need to achieve on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis? Once you get some perspective, it will be easier to start working towards your goal while also keeping up with the demands of your day job. 

Use technology 

All learning providers use technology to some extent on their courses. Systems such as e-blackboard or AtHomePrep let you study online and access course materials from mobile devices. Utilize any of these platforms available to you to make it easier to fit in a few minutes of study when you get the chance. 

Other ways to use technology include buying the digital version of textbooks rather than carrying them around with you all the time. The digital versions are often cheaper too. 

Another good way to use technology to study is to have an online study schedule. This can be done very simply by using the calendar app on your phone or you can get a little more sophisticated and use a program like Trello or Asana to plan your tasks in detail. 

Find your best time to work

Studying alongside a career and other commitments mean you’re always struggling to find the time to fit in the study. Find out when you work best and try to arrange your schedule around this. For instance, if you work better in the morning, try getting up earlier rather than staying up late into the night. 

Create a support network 

Your family, friends, and colleagues can be a great source of support for you while you study. Let them know what you are hoping to achieve and how they can help you. They may be able to watch the kids for a few hours while you study, or provide some much needed social activity when you need to take a break. By telling others, you’ll immediately feel a sense of accountability to do your best. 

Tell your employer

If you’re studying to advance your career or get that promotion, then your employer may be able to help you with things like study days or even help with your studies. Of course, if you’re planning to quit your job the moment you’ve qualified, maybe keep it low key. 

Make time for yourself

You will often feel like you’re being pulled in many directions at once. Especially if you’re holding down a full-time job and have other caring responsibilities. But it is very important that you make the time for your own physical and mental wellbeing. Schedule time to relax, exercise, socialize, and try and get a good amount of sleep on a regular basis. Pulling all-nighters to study can only last for so long before it begins to affect your health and your grades.

Episode #96: Meg Sunga Returns!

Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!

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This episode is sponsored by Degree.Me, a one-stop college research tool for students.  If you work for a college or university, you’ll want to learn all about their ability to connect you with the right students at a budget friendly price. To find out more, please visit Degree.Me/HEG

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Our guest for this week’s episode is Meg Sunga, who talks about her professional journey over the past year moving towards going all in with launching her own podcast, In Re:trospeqt, focusing on the stories of queer, trans people of color.

• Meg’s Patreon

• Meg’s Previous Higher Ed Geek Episode

• Will There Be Food?

• PodFest

• Peer Support Space

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Listen to the episode below, or subscribe and listen via iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or Google Play.

Music by pond5.com

Thanks for listening!

How Coronavirus Has Changed Our Viewing Experience

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There are so many wonderful ways to entertain ourselves and keep amused these days, and there is no question that one of the key ways of achieving this is to ensure you stream your favorite movies and TV shows. One of the key ways in which the entertainment industry has evolved in the past few years is the fact that we have been able to stream more content and gain instant access to the things that interest us. This has been spearheaded by Netflix, but has led to the growth of a glut of online streaming services, such as Apple+, Prime Video, and Disney+. There is no question that the world of film and TV is changing, and the way in which we experience it is also significantly changing as well. Coronavirus has changed the world in a lot of negative ways, but one of the positive ways in which it has changed things is that it might well have altered the viewing experiences we have.

Movie Theaters Have Taken a Hit

Naturally, people have not been able to get out and about and enjoy attending the movie theater to watch the latest releases. This has played a huge part in determining the fact that less people are attending theaters, and more people are streaming during quarantine, and there are some great ways to achieve this. Do what you can to find the best ways of being able to focus on this right now, and there are a lot of things that can help you here.

People are Embracing Streaming Services More

Due to the global lockdown many of us had to contend with, there have been plenty of changes that played a part in this, and people have needed to find ways of filling the time while stuck at home. This is what has led to a surge in popularity of things like Netflix and Prime Video, as people have chosen to subscribe with the intention of filling their time with some of the best streaming content on the market. 

Binge Watching is Becoming More Popular

One of the most popular parts of the streaming process is the fact that it allows for more binge watching, and this has certainly become more popular during lockdown. There are so many things that play a massive part in the process of achieving this right now, and you need to make sure you focus on doing as much as possible to enjoy binging your favorite shows. With access to sites like DigitalTVlife and an abundance of extra time on our hands, it’s not exactly a surprise that more people are choosing to stream and binge watch their favorite programs. 

As you can see, there are a lot of things you need to consider when it comes to improving your entertainment experience. And this is something that has been hugely impacted by COVID-19. It’s unlikely that the world of entertainment is going to be the same after this, and there are a lot of things that you need to focus on as much as possible. Take the next steps that are going to allow you to achieve this, and it is important that you try to make sure you get this right as much as possible.

Has The Global Pandemic Giving You A Chance For A New Career? Let’s Explore

When it comes to our healthy lifestyle there can often be common things that affect us in different ways. It might be the temptation of grabbing junk food at lunch time, not preparing or feeling motivated to do things such as exercise, but have you ever considered that your career could be having a negative impact on your health? This is when we may need to make improvements and look at how we do things. With that in mind, here are some suggestions. 

Image source - pixabay - cco license 

Could you make improvements?

One of the biggest things to ask yourself is what could change it, what you could do now to improve things for you. This might be working on your language skills so that you can enhance your career in a different way, the global pandemic giving you time to learn and develop skills. You could find an online English tutor who could help you get started with it. Or maybe the changes in the last few months have made you see that you see that you don’t want to do that job anymore. So it may even be time for a career change. 

Sitting down for too long

I am sure we have all been there at some point, am I right? Sat at your desk, working away, and before you know it you haven't stepped away from the computer and it is the end of the day. Sitting down for too long can have a negative impact on your health, so try and make an active point of standing once an hour for a minute. Whether that is walking to the bathroom, standing while talking on the phone or simply just getting up and walking round for a minute. 

Not eating healthily at work

Your guess it, we are more likely to eat unhealthily at work. There is too much temptation to grab something of convenience rather than eating a salad you made from home. However, with a bit of preparation and advanced thought, you can nip this bad habit in the bud before it takes over. 

Stress of workload

Stress can be a real common issue from work and your career, after all, the higher up the career ladder you climb, the harder it is to have an easy time of it. But, stress can also impact your health if you don’t learn some decent avoidance methods or thought provoking tools to help you deal with it. A good rule is to leave it at the door before coming home, and separating the two areas of your life. Allowing you time to relax and do the things you want to do without the worry and anxiety that stress can cause. 

The mental impact from the people around you 

Finally, the people around you can also have a negative impact on your mental health. Ever find that you feel you absorb the moods of others? This can happen all too frequent in an office environment especially if you work closely with your work colleagues. The best advice would be to try and not let their negative vibe impact your current thoughts and outlook. 

Let’s hope that highlighting some of these areas can help you ensure that your career is not your downfall when it comes to your healthy lifestyle.

5 Ways To Pass Time When You Have A Long Wait

Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay 

If you know you have a long wait coming up and you don’t know how you’re going to pass the time then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you have a long connection between flights or you’re going to be waiting for an available doctors appointment at a walk-in clinic, you need to ensure you have something to help keep you occupied. Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to help pass the time. From reading a book to doing a couple of puzzles, you may be surprised at all of the things you can do. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to help pass time when you have a long wait ahead of you: 

Read A Book

One of the best ways to pass the time when you have a long wait is to pack a book that you can read when you have the time. Although reading isn’t for everyone, it’s a great way to get lost in an alternative reality while you wait for the time to pass. If you don’t want to take a book with you, there are lots of e-reader apps for both tablets and mobile phones. This means you’ll have millions of books available to you at the touch of a button. For a guide to using an e-reader, you can visit this site here. 

Play Games On Your Phone

Most people will have their phones on them while they wait, making it easier for you to play games. Whether you like to play solo games or against other players, there are lots of different options available for you. If you can’t find anything you want to play, take a look through the app store charts to help inspire you. 

Do Some Puzzles

Another great way to pass time is to do brain teasers and puzzles. Whether you’re using your phone or a puzzle book, there are lots of different puzzles that you can do that will make an hour feel like 5 minutes. Although you may need to use a tool like a derivative calculator at first, you may be surprised at how much you can do. 

Consider Writing

Although it’s not for everyone, you may want to use the time you have to write. From writing in a journal to writing for a blog or publication, there’s no better time to do it than when you’re trying to make the time pass. For a guide to getting started when it comes to writing, you can visit this site here. 

Listen To Music 

Finally, you may want to consider listening to music. Although it may not make the time go much quicker, there’s nothing better than sitting there and getting lost in your favourite songs. 

With lots of fun ways to pass time when you have a long wait, you can be sure you’re never bored again. What else could you do? Did we miss anything off of the list? Let us know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

Useful Tips For Aspiring Physicians

The aspiration to secure employment as a medical professional is among the most profitable decisions a budding student can make. While there are several crucial traits and inherent skills aspiring physicians will need, opting for a renowned medical school is just as essential. Therefore, if you are considering a career in medicine, you should find institutions such as the American University School of Medicine Aruba or other high ranked options. 

Once you have set your decision in stone, you will be tasked with numerous challenges as a student. While some obstacles are somewhat cliche to student life, others are unique to aspiring physicians. The following tips will help you make it through your first year as a bussing medical student. 

Avoid Cramming

There's not a student out there that hasn't considered cramming at one point or another in their student life. When exams roll around, it's quite reasonable for stress to kick in, and the temporary solution of cramming often seems like the only way. However, while cramming may be suitable when studying specific fields, medical knowledge requires thorough understanding. Therefore, cramming will only allow students to scratch the surface of most medical topics. Rather than cram, it is best to ensure you have a full understanding of each subject and matter right from the start. Obtaining a thorough understanding early on will reduce the number of hours you will need to put into studying as a general rule.

Study Groups Can Cause Confusion

Study groups present themselves as the perfect opportunity to gain understanding from varying perspectives, although, this is often not the case for most medical students. More often than not, study groups can confuse understanding rather than help obtain it. It is best to pick an isolated spot instead and delve into the depths of your coursework as early on as possible. Relying on study groups may mean that you understand what is going on with your friends work, rather than your own. Your main goal should be to grasp concepts in a manner that resonates with you. 

Unbreakable Focus Is Key

When comparing the responsibilities of a physician or any other profession in the medical sector to jobs in most other industries, it is extraordinarily precise that medical professionals require unbreakable focus. As a physician, you will often be necessary to act immediately rather than allow your decisions to simmer in doubt. Therefore, by obtaining the skill of unbreakable focus from your first year as a student, you will find coursework easier, as well as your future career as a physician. Focus is vital for success when working in the medical sector. 

Make Use of Old Tests

When it comes to studying for exams, finding old tests will be an intelligent decision. Even if you have managed to grasp a deep understanding of concepts, it will be of great help to assess past tests to determine how questions are presented. You will also be able to decide on the types of answers that are expected. Making your way through med school is a rewarding challenge that will lead to an exceptionally lucrative career and livelihood.

How To Begin Seeing The World In A New Light

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Seeing the world in a new light is important, particularly when you think you know everything. None of us can, and you’ll also find that our unwillingness to learn something new will actually make us brittle, unable to think, and less happy than we could be. You see it on all sides of the political spectrum, people simply unwilling to listen or even consider listening to the other side - even if only to weigh up their arguments so they could confirm their beliefs with further justification.

But how are you supposed to see the world in a new light? It can be hard to artificially bring this about. You have your own vantage point based on the culture you were raised in, the identity you hold, the tastes you have, and the relationships you build.

But why see the world in a new light? Well, put simply, it allows us to consider another’s point of view. Sometimes, it allows us to see our surroundings properly for the first time in a while. Furthermore, you may find that it allows you to feel more secure in who you are.

So - let’s consider this subject carefully, and together:

Suspend Judgement For A Time

It’s good to suspend judgement of the world, because the reality is always more complex than you know. Of course, there are certain things that are bad, and that we should choose to combat. Ignorance or hatred are one of those things. But instead of belittling others for a slight we feel they have caused, sometimes it can be that addressing an inner distaste can help us make the improvement ourselves.

For instance, you simply might not like those in engage in heavy party culture. You feel it’s somewhat off-putting, and dance music is repetitive and boring. You feel that the people who attend there are somewhat less intelligent because they don’t listen to the music you most enjoy. It’s fine to admit it, because even though when we think through these impressions rationally we know they are absurd, but those hidden biases can be hard to detect, and may have been formed when you were much younger.

Then, your friend invites you to an EDM festival and you have more fun than you’ve ever experienced partying with people you do not know. All of a sudden, your previous impressions are shattered, and you wonder how you could have been so closed-minded. This can work for a thousand issues. Political, social, cultural, or the experiences you avoid each day, all of this can be overcome or made more nuanced by suspending judgement for a time - and seeing what it is that’s actually there.

Always Assume You Can Learn Something New

It’s good to assume you can learn something new. It’s the second stage that comes to you after suspending judgement. Have you ever had a time where you took an immediate disliking to someone? Perhaps they didn’t quite make a good first impression, or perhaps they were a little too blunt in their greeting.

Then, you loosen up a bit, and end up speaking to them after your friend takes a trip to the bathroom. You realize that they’re actually quite funny and witty. You warm up to them. Your immediate thoughts of ‘this person isn’t enough for me’ or ‘I cannot be around this person for long’ turns to ‘let’s see what this person has to say.’ 

Everyone makes judgements. While you may not have had that exact scenario play out, something like this may not be so far from your memory. So, if that’s the case, then how can we make the most of this information and draw something new from it?

We always have something new to learn. When you begin to play a new instrument, for instance, you start to recognize why the masters are considered the masters. No guitar player that has been seriously practicing for a few months will have troubling why Jimi Hendrix was so celebrated. The novice respects the master, and the master will often themselves have idols and heroes they look up to. This can be tailored to anything. There’s always a fashion icon to take inspiration from, there’s always an author with better sentence structure and more interesting ideas, there’s always someone with a higher and more committed moral code than you.

You don’t have to be perfect to be pretty great. But that doesn’t mean you have to copy people in order to learn from them. Quite the opposite. This mindset can help the world open up to you, and you can more authentically understand yourself thanks to that approach. There’s nothing wrong with being weak, and unsure, and uncertain, and a novice. That’s much better than being overconfident, brittle, close-minded and unwilling to learn. So, why not rest in that?

Spend Time Observing

Of course, so far we’ve discussed how to see the world in a new light by taking some pretty heavy disciplinary measures against impulsiveness. But often, you’ll find that actually spending a little more time observing the world will help you think about it in more detail.

In order to see the world in a renewed fashion, as if you had just purchased the best quality eyeglasses you could with frames that suited you tremendously well, you need to know how to look at it. For instance, if someone doesn’t have the same political attitude as you, why might that be? They may not feel that the a sensitive social issue should be handled in the same way you do. Does that mean they are wrong and a bad person, or someone who may have had a bad experience with a consequence of that issue beforehand? Might it be something you’re not considering?

When we argue or express our point to other people, we hope they’re listening. Moreover, we hope they’re not jumping into a defense or critique straight away. That can feel troubling. So, why don’t we extend that courtesy to others? It could make all the difference, and it may help us start seeing the world in a new light.

Write Down Your Thoughts

To see the world differently, you have to see yourself differently. This can be achieved by writing down your thoughts, waiting, and reading them again. We often feel we know much more of ourselves than we actually do. You’re more complex than you think. But spending the time writing down your thoughts and watching yourself can see how you really are - not how you tell yourself you are.

This is, of course, if you’re honest. But knowing who you are in an honest context is much better than knowing an inauthentic version of yourself who makes use of bravado and deception to get through life. Writing down your thoughts can also help you express them, and understand them. This is why talking therapy is effective - it gives us a chance to properly articulate our inner thoughts and emotions.

So, writing down your thoughts can be very effective in this context. It might help you learn more about yourself. From there, it might help you know what you like and dislike, and from there, you might begin to see the world as the real you. This is not some wishy-washy form of thinking differently at all costs, it’s actually a means in which to become more familiar with yourself. This helps you think more independently, which is always good. From there, you can observe more clearly.

With this advice, we hope you can begin seeing the world in a new light - in the best possible direction.

Par for the Course? Coping With Exam Stress

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Going into higher education can feel like we've been thrown to the lions in many ways. We may struggle to keep afloat in a new environment, or we may have to get financial help, but one of the most significant stresses for so many of us is exam anxiety. After all, so much of our education hinges on an exam or two. So we could buckle under the pressure. But when it comes to exams or stressful coursework, how can we cope?

Don’t Go in Alone

When it comes to preparing for an exam, having a study buddy can help you absorb notes and look at things from a different perspective. You may have friends that tell you about study resources and state “MyPaperhelpers completed my SPSS analysis,” or “I just copy someone else’s ideas” but when it comes to these sticky parts of your research or coursework, think about reaching out for help based on your specific needs. It can mean looking at your abilities in terms of coursework or studying and taking the opportunities to address your weaknesses. It could mean feeling like the stupidest person in the room, but it's going to benefit you more in the long run when you ask for help.

Learning to Control Your Triggers

Everybody has their Achilles heel. And when you discover your specific problems in terms of anxieties, you can reduce particular symptoms. Mindfulness is something that so many people talk about, but learning how to become away from a stressful situation will allow you to reduce your body and mind's stress responses. It's something that you can start right away. And when you start as soon as possible, you giving yourself the best chance of letting the solutions seep in. Unfortunately, it isn't something you can fix overnight. Still, if you are looking for short-term solutions to reducing stress, there are specific exercises and binaural beats that you can access online.

Setting Realistic Goals

Something that can help us all under a pressurized situation is learning to put things into perspective. When you set realistic goals, whether you have several hours or several weeks before your exam or coursework, you will have the opportunity to put everything into perspective. This means that when you start to think about how you can function under certain pressures you can set appropriate tasks. Some people can't do it the night before but they still find themselves cramming despite all the time in the world. This is why it's important for us to learn the best study habits for our own individual needs. You might not be someone that benefits from reading materials but would rather be able to listen to recorded documents. But this is something you can easily do by using a read-aloud function on Google Docs or recording pieces of text yourself. 

Exam stress or coursework stress appears to be par for the course but it's important to remember that a little pressure can be good for us. It can motivate us to get things done. But it's when you go over that cliff and stress impact your ability to do anything that you need to address the appropriate techniques.

Episode #95: Sasha Chada on Ivy Scholars & Supporting College Applicants

Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!

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This episode is sponsored by Degree.Me, a one-stop college research tool for students.  If you work for a college or university, you’ll want to learn all about their ability to connect you with the right students at a budget friendly price. To find out more, please visit Degree.Me/HEG

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Our guest for this week’s episode is Sasha Chada, Founder and CEO of Ivy Scholars, who speaks about his unlikely journey to founding an education company, the lessons he has learned along the way, as well as stories from his work with prospective college students nationwide.

• If the U Fits

• A for Admission

• Strategy Guides for University Applications

• Standout University Application Essays

• What is Candidacy Building?

• Coaching Admissions for Ivy League Universities

• An interview with Sasha Chada, CEO of Ivy Scholars

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Listen to the episode below, or subscribe and listen via iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or Google Play.

Music by pond5.com

Thanks for listening!

Helpful Financial Resources to Check Out

My journey with financial education really only began in my late twenties.

As I began my career, I started to realize how little I knew after making some mistakes when it came to credit cards, negotiating salaries, and investing.

I know I felt intimidated and frankly didn’t even know where to start. Thankfully, I’ve been able to find some great, easy to access, and nonjudgemental resources to help me along in my financial education journey. Now, I’m trying to do what I can to evangelize these for other higher professionals as they work with their students.

Here are a few resources I’d recommend to start with:

The Financial Diet

This digital media company is comprised of a YouTube channel, blog, podcast, and a book all focusing on practical advice when it comes to money. Born out of the journey of the creator, Chelsea Fagan, The Financial Diet (TFD) now features of the voices of a nationwide community who seeks to all do better when it comes to things like budgeting, saving, and our emotional relationship with money.

Bad with Money

Writer, actress, and comedian Gaby Dunn hosts a podcast and wrote a book focusing on this moniker which stems from her own struggles with money over the years. As she strives to learn more and do better, she shares personal anecdotes and examines the systemic forces that impact people. These forces cause inequities when it comes to their wages, wealth, homeownership, and more and I very much appreciate that she highlights this context.

Pigly

A completely free to use and ad-free platform, Pigly has an assortment of helpful calculators for things like paying down debt, saving money, but also quantifying the cost of quitting smoking, eating less meat, not eating lunch out. This can really show the long term impact of our choices and allow for us to be more motivated to stick with our good financial habits.

I hope these resources can help get you started on your path towards financial wellness like they did for me. They are the accessible, genuine, and raw takes on this topic that I needed versus the typical content pushed out by self proclaimed “gurus”. I wish you luck on your journey; it can be a long tough road but it is so worth it!