Work-Life Balance

Mo’ money, mo’ problems: how to balance school, life, and work

As crazy as it may sound, having more money isn’t always going to make things better for you.

In fact, there are times when making a less-than-ideal financial decision may be the right thing to do in order for you to keep your sanity.

In college, your goal should be to get your degree in as little time as possible. The less time you are enrolled in college, the more money you’ll save (every extra year of college costs you an additional year of tuition and fees plus the opportunity cost of not working).

It might be worth taking on a little bit of student debt if doing so means you can finish on time—and not have to work yourself to death in the process.

Work may be hazardous to your health

The more hours you have to put into a job to pay for school, the less time you’ll have to focus on your studies. That could severely limit your ability to get a degree on time.

In fact, research has shown that working more than 20 hours a week while in school has a negative impact on GPA. Working 10 to 15 hours, however, has a positive impact because it forces you to learn how to prioritize and organize your life.

Although working less may mean you have to borrow more money for school, it may save your sanity. Think about it: if you work 30 hours a week and take a full load of classes, you could easily spend 90 hours a week trying to keep up with everything.

That’s not good for your mental or physical health.

Do what you have to do, of course. But if you find yourself on the edge of burnout, sit down with your family and put together a plan that will help you balance your life better.

The problems don’t stop when you graduate

Work-life balance is an issue for everyone. It will come up again and again over the course of your career. You’ll have to decide what optimal balance of salary and work hours is for you.

While you may want that $80,000 job, are you willing to put in 60 hours a week to make it? Or are there other things going on in your life that demand your attention?

Sometimes, you’ll make the wrong choice. And that’s okay. Periodically, you should assess how your current lifestyle makes you feel, so you can make more informed decisions the next time you go on a job hunt.

While making less money or taking out some additional student loan debt may not sound like the greatest ideas in the world, if doing so puts you in a more positive place, then we’re all for it.

Make sure you’re taking the time while you’re in school to enjoy college, and to enjoy your life even when you’re working. You only get one life. Do what you can to put yourself in a good position to enjoy it.