How to Balance Work and Study During Your Online MBA?

Online MBA is not an easy job. You need to be on your toes every day until the completion of your degree. So, for your mental well-being and to successfully complete your degree, take some time to reflect on how much time you spend working and studying each day and how you feel about it. Do you constantly feel overwhelmed and stressed? Are you neglecting other areas of your life, such as your health or relationships? If the answer to these questions is yes, you must learn how to balance work and study while pursuing an online MBA. Read our blog for the tips.

Why Should You Achieve a Balance Between Work & Studies?

Balancing work and studies while pursuing your online MBA is crucial for several reasons:

• It helps you develop your full potential in both areas. When you are constantly stressed and overwhelmed, it's hard to perform at your best. However, when you have a balanced approach to work and school, you feel more energised and motivated, thus giving your best.
• Achieving a balance between work and study helps you avoid burnout. When you constantly work or study, you risk burning out, which decreases your productivity, motivation, and satisfaction. Taking a balanced approach allows you to recharge your batteries and avoid burnout, leading to better results in the long term.
• You can maintain a healthy lifestyle. When you are always working or studying, it is easy to neglect your health, which causes physical and mental problems. However, when you balance work and studies with other activities, you can maintain a healthy lifestyle, leading to better results in all areas of life.

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Tips to Balance Work and Study During Your Online MBA

Here are some tips that can help you strike a healthy balance between work and study while pursuing your online MBA -

Prioritise Your Tasks

One of the most important secrets to achieving a productive balance between work and study is prioritising your tasks. You can leverage online task management tools like ProofHub, ClickUp, Trello, ProductPlan, Aha!, Google Keep, Evernote, etc.

These tools can help you plan your tasks, determine the order of priorities without missing anything important, focus on the most critical tasks, and improve your productivity.

Suggestions

• Make a comprehensive list of all your work tasks, study commitments like assignment delivery, readings, discussions, and personal obligations such as errands, appointments, family time, etc.
• Schedule demanding study sessions (reading, problem-solving) when you are most alert and focused. 
• Place less demanding tasks like reviewing notes or attending lectures in lower-energy slots.

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Use a Calendar  

Using a calendar is another fundamental secret to achieving a productive balance between work and study. A calendar or planner allows you to organise your time effectively and ensure that you dedicate enough time to work and study. 

Suggestions

• Schedule your work hours, class times, and any recurring commitments or meetings to get a realistic picture of your available time.
• Plan your time strictly for studying throughout the week. Be realistic when scheduling tasks.
• Look at your online MBA syllabus and coursework deadlines. Divide big projects or assignments into smaller, more manageable tasks.  
• Schedule time for other activities, especially exercising, socialising, and relaxing. 

Just be sure to leave some free time in your schedule to deal with unforeseen tasks or emergencies (they always come up!).

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Set Clear Goals 

Define clear and achievable goals both at work and in your studies. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the program.

Suggestions

• Set SMART goals for your overall MBA journey (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
• Break down work and study goals into smaller, weekly targets.
• Prioritise tasks and schedule dedicated time blocks for work, study, and personal well-being.
• Maintain balance by including relaxation and be flexible to adjust your schedule as needed.

Talk to Employers

Pursuing an MBA is not something that will benefit only you but also the organisation you work for. It is recommended that you speak with your superiors to consider the option of having a more flexible schedule or organising it so that you can have a free afternoon.

Suggestions

• Request a dedicated time to discuss your education and its potential benefits to the company.
• Briefly explain how the MBA aligns with your current role and future career goals within the company.
• Suggest flexible work arrangements like adjusted schedules or compressed workweeks to manage your workload.
• Reiterate your dedication to your current role and assure them studying while working won't impact your performance.

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Stay Organized 

Juggling work, studies, and an online MBA can feel overwhelming. You will need to develop strong organisational skills to achieve your goal.

Suggestions

• Keep track of deadlines, meetings, and study sessions in a physical or digital planner.
• Organise digital files and documents in clearly labelled folders for easy access.
• Conduct weekly reviews to adjust your schedule and priorities as needed.
• Break down larger tasks into daily goals to stay on track and avoid last-minute rushes.
• Limit social media and other distractions during dedicated work and study times.

Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking is a common mistake that many people make when trying to combine work and studies. However, multitasking is ineffective and can lead to decreased productivity and increased stress levels.

robot and you will be much more efficient by focusing on just one thing 100%.

Additional Tip: Take Breaks and Rest

When you work or study constantly, it's easy to feel fatigued and overwhelmed at a certain point. Taking breaks and resting allows you to recharge your batteries and maintain your energy levels, which results in better results.

To take breaks and rest effectively, schedule small breaks throughout the day, such as taking a walk or stretching. Even while you're busy, techniques like the Pomodoro method are very useful for balancing rest and work.

Also, ensure you get enough sleep each night to be rested and energised for the next day.

Conclusion

Studying for an MBA offers great benefits linked to professional and personal growth. But the road can be long and sometimes arduous if there is no purpose for improvement and no organisation to study and work simultaneously. Despite the learning challenges and time commitment that an MBA requires, it is possible to balance studies with work healthily. 

Finally, don't forget to choose the most appropriate online MBA program according to your training needs and professional goals. Choosing the MBA influences both the learning results and the success you can achieve in combining studies and work.