Entrepreneurship in College
How To Balance School and Work
Written by Anna Lempereur for Gaebler Ventures
It is difficult for young entrepreneurs to maintain a healthy balance between school and work. Here are some tips that will help you stay in tune with each of your responsibilities
Many entrepreneurs start companies while they are in college, which is one of the busiest times to start a business.
Along with class schedules, homework and exams, there is also the responsibility of running your business. Here are some tips that will keep school and work at a healthy balance.
Manage Your Time
Since you are dealing with two very serious responsibilities, create a very detailed for your work/school week. You do not want to let your grades slip because you are too focused on running your business, and vice versa. It is important to maintain a healthy balance between the two. Your class schedule will speak for itself, so figure out the best times to study and work on class work, and the best times to work on improving your business.
Try to schedule your class work right after you take the corresponding class. For example, do your statistics homework the next time you have available after you take your statistics course. That way, the material is the most fresh in your mind.
Save weeknights to work on business related work if most of your classes are in the morning. If your classes are at night, work on your business in the morning. Don't rotate between the two in one day - it will only cause confusion and possibly cause you to become overwhelmed. Dedicate the first half of the day to one, and the second half to the other.
Leave Room For Extracurricular Activities
As it is unhealthy to overpower one of your responsibilities with the other, it is unhealthy to not have an outside life. Be sure you are leaving yourself some time to participate in activities you enjoy - sports, clubs at school, etc.
If you are burying yourself in school and work, you will not be as productive as you think. You will only become more stressed, which can cause your work to suffer. Participating in extracurricular activities will help relax you and refresh your mind for the next time you deal with school and work.
Make Contacts
Being in college while running a business is extremely beneficial when it comes to making contacts. Create relationships with as many contacts as possible - professors, advisors, even students who study your field.
Write down a list of these contacts so you will be able to get in touch with them in the future if needed. Many entrepreneurs meet people in college that help them with their businesses in the long run, so it is very important not to let this opportunity pass you by.
Anna Lempereur is a freelance writer interested in writing about small business. She is currently a Journalism major at the University of Albany in New York.
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