With the socialising, hard work and even harder partying, student life is not always easy. It’s even harder holding down a part-time job at the same time. Here are some of the things to avoid when you have to work alongside your studies:

Don’t settle for the wrong job

Fans of early nights, fear not: bartending and waiting are not the only options for students. Why not find an income method that doesn’t even require you to leave your bed? You can offer your freelance services on a website like Fiverr, become a product tester for websites, or even sell old clothes on Depop. There are plenty of student internships offered by the university at the start of the year, and student ambassador roles are open for applications at several points during the academic year. Tutoring or working as a Deliveroo driver are some other more stable alternatives.

Don’t neglect yourself

Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, exercise and eat healthily and you should have no problem turning up to work or university. Neglect any of these and you’ll find yourself sick, tired and struggling to cope with your busy timetable. Likewise, make sure you set aside time to relax. It might seem daft to pencil in a facemask or a Netflix binge with flatmates but maintaining self-care ensures that you have the mental energy stay on top of everything.

Don’t forget the reason you’re here

Don’t lose sight of why you came to university – to get an education and, at the end of it, a full-time job. Part-time work can be a great way to make friends outside of university and get to know another side of Leeds. However, you should always put your studies first. If it helps with keeping the end-goal in mind, it might be worth pursuing a part-time job that’s relevant to your studies, so you gain valuable experience and also earn money.

Don’t wing it

How will you make it through the turbulence of 9am-lectures and Otley Runs and still manage to turn up to work in one piece? It’s about staying organised. Know what needs doing and plan out your time to complete them, get up early and follow a structured weekday. You’ll be able to maintain a healthy balance between your studies and part-time work while also have time for societies, Fruity, and trips to The Edge.

Either way, make sure not to make any of the above mistakes, and you should be fine. Have fun and spend your hard-earned pennies unwisely.

 

 

Helen Woodhouse