- ̗̀ yo ̖́-

Throughout my time in sixth form I’ve worked in 3 different places, only spending 4 months of the last two years unemployed. I managed roughly 8-21 hours a week at McDonald’s for the whole of year 12 (and came out with ABB) then became a Christmas temp for Lush, working 8 hours a week until January (coinciding with my year 13 mock exams in which I achieved ABC) and, after a short break I picked up another job in May, averaging 11 hours a week right in the middle of my year 13 exams which I don’t have the results for yet. Not working was not an option for me, I come from a low-income background, my mum is divorced and I have two sisters with a lot of extracurricular activities so I had to help out but, that’s not to say that working was easy. It takes up a lot of time and can be exhausting so I put together a few tips and tricks for managing A level studies with part-time work. 

1. Plan your time, this is super simple but noting down what you have to do in the day (whether in a bujo or just as a list) is a super good way of focusing yourself. By making a list you can prioritise tasks also and get an idea of how long you’re going to need to study for, something that is especially important if you have long shifts as a schedule gives regularity.

2. Learn to turn down shifts, I know the need for money can take over and that it can be scary to turn down extra work when you have a manager pressuring you but it is sometimes necessary. Most employers will respect the fact that you have exams/are studying and be as accommodating as possible if you tell them in advance but, if they’re still offering you extra work, it’s ok to say no.

3. Work on your breaks, I know they’re called breaks but they’re really useful in terms of studying when it comes close to exam time. My breaks at McDonald’s were either 35 minutes long or 50 minutes long so there was always time to work. My breaks at my latest jobs have only been 20 minutes but that’s enough to go through some flashcards at least, take advantage of the time you have.

4. Wake up earlier if your shift is long and you won’t have time to study after work then studying beforehand is never a bad idea. Just make sure you have enough sleep so you’re not too tired to stand-up and work. 

5. Study on the way to work, My place of work is a 30-45 min bus journey away from where I live and so this provided me with the perfect chance to do a past paper or write an essay. It makes the journey go by quicker and also helps you to tick a task off your to-do list.

6. Study late, This one can be hard, especially if you’ve already gotten up earlier than usual to do some work and endured a full working day but it is important. Most of my exams this year were morning exams so I didn’t have that extra couple of hours that an afternoon exam provides and so nighttimes had to be utilised. The best way to manage a late night is to rope someone into staying up with you, to have plenty of snacks and to make sure you have a really clear list of the most essential stuff to go over before your exam. If you know exactly what you have to do it’s much harder to not do it and you get that productive feeling from ticking it off your list.

7. Make sure you at least get the minimum amount of sleep that suits you, This may contradict the last point and point 4 but it’s very important. I worked out the minimum amount of sleep I needed to feel rested/be able to focus on study or manage at work and tried to fit my work and studying around this. I don’t sleep much so I was able to get around 5 hours a night and still function for the rest of the day but every person will have a different minimum level. Once exams are over the amount of time available for sleep grows and you’re able to feel more well rested.

8. Take a day every so often for yourself, This is hard, in fact depending on the hours you actually work it may seem close to impossible but it is entirely necessary. When you’re balancing a busy school life with constantly working you need to give yourself a breather, no matter how guilty it makes you feel. It’s ok to not be productive every single day.