School Work Balance

I am looking to balance school and work

How to find this balance?

Put into practice these tricks to better manage your time

  • Set yourself a professional goal.
  • Identify a certified employer that offers the winning conditions for success (flexibility, a reasonable number of hours). For the complete list of certified employers, visit the directory.
  • Recognize activites that waste time (social media, TV series, etc.).
  • Respect your agenda and update it regulary.
  • Be realistic about the time spent on various tasks.

Speak to your employer about

  • the challenges or difficulties you face regarding your work schedule, the number of hours you work or the tasks
  • the adjustements you need to make to your  work schedule for your exam periods or for school work, at least two weeks in advance

Verify how you are using your time throughout the week

  • How do you manage your time?
  • Are you wasting time? or on the contrary, do you lack the time needed to get everything done?
  • Does the way you manage your time facilitate your success in school?

By knowing what you do with your time, it will be easier to plan your weeks, granting the necessary time to your studies and school work, to your hobbies, as well as to your paid employement.

 

Use the TIME MANAGEMENT TOOLS below to draw up your employee-student profile and obtain an overview of your week.

Portrait of a balanced week

Ideally, a full-time student should only work between 10 to 15 hours per week (maximum 20 hours).

 

24 hours in a day, 168 hours per week…

How should a high school student use this time?

TIME MANAGEMENT TOOLS

Does your time management benefit your school-work balance?

 

Here is a first tool (in french only) that will allow you to establish your student-employee profile and thus get a quick overview of your situation regarding your studies, your work and your health. Then, according to your profile, practical solutions will be proposed to help you better balance your studies and your work.

JeConcilie.com

Here is a second tool (in french only) that will allow you to obtain an overview of your week. Choose your current situation.

I am a high school student
I am a student at a vocational or adult education center
I am a cégep or university student
Advantages and disadvantages of a student job
Advantages
  • Development of organizational skills (agenda, a variety of schedules, deadlines…)
  • Development of a sense of responsibility (financial independence, managing a budget, commitment to employer…)
  • Development of self-discipline (autonomy, choices…)
  • Experience in the labour market and of its culture (ex. arriving on time, using appropriate language)
  • Development of meaningful relationships with adults
  • Feeling valued and obtaining recognition
  • Development of knowledge and skills (through practical experience)
  • Increased financial independence
  • Improved self-esteem
  • Smoother transition between school and the labour market
Disadvantages
  • Less time and energy for school work
  • Decreased concentration
  • Lateness and absenteeism
  • Decreased motivation at school
  • Reduced performance
  • Increased risk of injury and accidents
  • Stress, fatigue, etc.
  • Sleep deprivation
Managing a budget

Tips for managing your budget and spending wisely

  • Before every purchase, get into the habit of asking yourself: “Do I really need this?”
  • Say no to credit
  • Calculate the number of hours of work needed to pay for the product you want to purchase
  • Pay your debts as quickly as possible
  • Question yourself regarding your purchases: are they impulse buys or are they thought-out (spontaneous purchases or planned in the budget)?
  • Are there sometimes discounts on the product or service you want to purchase?
  • Try to get to know yourself better as a consumer. “Am I a compulsive or reflective buyer?”
  • Identify real needs. Plan purchases and learn about the products you want to purchase (possible discounts, warranty, product durability, etc.)
  • Identify ways to save money (open a savings account, buy later, borrow instead of buying, etc.)

Managing a budget, video clips

Video clip to raise awareness: “Financing your studies”

 

Duration: 1 min 22 s. Practical advice, brought to you by Laurent Paquin, regarding the difference between financing your studies through a student loan or on a credit card (in french only).

 

 

The Association cooperative de l’économie familiale de l’Estrie (ACEF)’s “Consuming without illusions” website

 

Intended for young people aged 15 to 25 years old, this video presents them with basic information on consumption and personal finances. On this website, young people will find tools to help them avoid falling into the pitfalls of consumption (in french only).

 

 

Website created by the Autorité des marches financiers (AMF)

Which aims to educate young people about the benefits of a proper management of their personal finances. A three-step process, online tools, tips, activities and contests are the website’s main elements. Simulation exercises are provided for teachers to help them develop their students’ skills in terms of personal finances, savings and investments.

 

 

Mobile app to record hours worked (in french only)

 

Video clips

School-Work Balance Estrie video clips (in french only):

 

Temptation blocker programs

Here is a suggestion for three free programs that block access to websites, browsers, games or programs that are at risk wasting your precious time. You can use them to help you better manage your schedule and avoid distractions.