There was a time period while college students can bus tables at the local diner or work at college bookstore a few hours a week and that would be sufficient for a little extra spending money. Today, though, students are more probable to work something closer to a full-time schedule and leaving little time for parties, football games.

Actually, a recent report from Public Agenda found that among students in four-year schools, 45 percent work more than 20 hours per week. For community college students, in excess of a quarter work greater than 35 hours weekly. In addition, nearly one-quarter of college students have dependent children.

In some cases, work and school prove to be too much. Given choice between income and education and faced with fewer dollars to go around in terms of student loans, a lot of students Leave College before attaining a degree choose the immediate reward of a pay check over the expected reward of the higher-paying job upon graduation.

For these non-traditional students, it is imperative to plan about how to balance work and school. Using the tips below, they can do both, without either one suffering.

Take assignments with you: While I do think you can fit in your schoolwork at other times throughout the day. For example, if you are sitting at your daughter's soccer practice or folding laundry, utilize the time to study. By getting your schoolwork done a little at a time, you will avoid cramming the night before your pulling an all-nighter to write down a 20-page paper on Macbeth.

Manage stress: Exercise, meditation, enough sleep and short periods of outdoor time are all ideal ways to keep stress under control. Make time for fun as well, such as outings with family and friends. Even a few minutes of downtime before bed, spent reading a book or listening to music, would help you to avoid be exhausted. Keep away from drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, as these substances are more likely to negatively impact your stress levels and disrupt the sleep too.

Communicate with managers:

Your managers are not mind readers. Speak up and let them know that your job is main to you but that you also have school and family as priorities, and they will be more probable to be flexible.

Make use of one family calendar: Mainly if you have a spouse and children, it is critical that you communicate your timetable so everyone is on the same page. That approach, if you have a final exam coming up, you can plan dinner and nighttimes responsibilities together as a result. An online calendar program works well, so you can update it in real time. Similarly, keep an online or handwritten "to do" list to help you prioritize tasks and keep on organized daily.

Schedule your time: Approximate the amount of time you think it will take you to complete your assignments, and then double it. That way, there will be no surprises, except pleasant ones if you have time left over as your schoolwork is done. Block off time on your calendar for your studies and other priorities as in family, just as you block off time for work. Stick on to those hours just as strictly.

Limit your hours: keep away from making work a priority over school and family. In an ideal world, limit your weekly work hours to 20 or fewer. Work weekends to help free up some time throughout the week for your studies.

Be sensible: Don't over-commit yourself, thinking you be able to do it all. Get in the habit of saying "no" if you know that your schedule won't allow a lot of extra commitments, even as occasionally allowing yourself to say yes when it is important, for instance agreeing to chaperone a field trip for your child's class.

Share the load you must: Ask for help when you need it. Your loved ones would understand that you can't prepare dinner, get kids to bed, clean the house and get the assignments completed, all after an eight-hour workday. Divide the responsibilities to keep everyone happy. Not to be afraid to let stuff go, also that pile of laundry can wait for another day.

Describe goals:

What do you expect to get out of your academic degree. Set a goal, write it down and put it on your refrigerator. Cut out pictures of anything that your degree would help you to attain, for example a house or a vacation. Look at your goals and your pictures frequently. Keep in mind that work helps you pay the bills in the short term, and school would help you to make a stable career for the long term. One does not trump the other.

Keep going till the end: If you quit your job, you will stop earning money and at once feel the effects. If you quit school except keep working, you may not be affected until years later, when you are still earning a mediocre income. Stick with school, knowing that your hectic schedule is only for temporary.

Especially, remember that you have what it takes to succeed in all areas of your life. It is simply a matter of staying organized, making yourself and your family the priority and keeping your eyes on graduation award.