Michael Jordan "Failure" Nike Commercial

Time Management: Working and Going to School

This past week has been a rough one, between both jobs and final projects I have managed to totally screw up simple things, and had to as a manager work both jobs overtime with all disregard for any personal obligations. How can we as students who work, effectively manage our time? Many people have told us time and time again what they would do, or what they think is best in our case, but only you know your schedule, your obligations, and how make everything fit into your long-term plan. In an article I found on Degrees.com there were several pointers I found that I would like to share with everyone today. Take these and apply them to your specific needs.

• Keeping a calendar of your work schedule, combined with your daily assignments and upcoming exams is an excellent way to stay balanced and be aware of what needs to be read and absorbed each day after work. The month-view of what lies ahead will make your tasks seem less intimidating, and you can see your progress over time. Place alerts in your cell phone or email that you you know of upcoming events and deadlines 2-3 days ahead of time so you do not end up doing important tasks/assignments last minute or missing them all together
  

• Making lists is also an excellent time management tool. Making daily lists will help to keep your priorities in order, helping you to remember little things like what to pick up at the grocery store, or what chapters to read for class. It is a great way to keep you from feeling frazzled and overwhelmed.

Aside from keeping a large monthly calendar and daily post-it lists, scheduling each day is an additional time management tool to add to your arsenal. Allot your tasks by the hour, giving yourself structure and time to study and time to unwind each day.

One of the most important things to add into your busy schedule of working and going to school is to pencil in some time for yourself, no matter how short that time may be. If you do not take time out to do something you enjoy, you may become depressed or disenchanted with earning your degree, and possibly quit school. A healthy balance of ambition and time for your personal needs is important.

Proper sleep is also high on the list. Studies show that individuals who get a healthy amount of sleep each night, and those who go to bed and get up around the same time daily, are more focused and alert. These individuals feel better overall, and have the energy to take on the full day of school and work that they meet each day. Some students who work find online college an ideal avenue for achieving a higher education. The freedom to study from home frees students to work, yet does take self-discipline to follow through with. Currently I am online and there are many benefits to making your own work schedule, but you do have to adhere to deadlines just as in a real class room, so be sure properly prioritize your daily work load. To much work and to much stress will lead to poor performance in all areas of your life. Trust me I know :)

You can read more about working and going to school at http://www.degrees.com/article/time-management-working-and-going-school-0

Finding A Way

Hello everyone, I try to post at least once a week - but at times life just gets in the way of our hidden treasures. These past few weeks have been interesting trying to balance work, school, and a new prospect in my personal life...at times as usual sometimes they all run head on into each other and crash and burn lol, but it's great when they function on their own and create magic in my life. I was talking to a customer at my job just the other day about balancing life and fulfilling your dreams and she told me as many others have, she wished she had have had the drive and initiative to follow her dreams like I am doing today and it gave me just enough inspiration to keep on going on my quest to greatness. We find inspiration and encouragemnt sometimes through the most unlikely sources, this week mine came from a lady in her 70's looking for wood glue...go figure right? This week I want to you take the time to find out what pushes you, or what inspires you? I'd like to share a song with you this week that helps me get through rough spots, creative blocks, and just puts my life into perspective at times. I'd love for you to share with me the tools you use for success. Personally my biggest music inspriation are the Black Eyed Peas, each member has a personal story that speaks volumes and all are business savvy individuals.
Here is my favorite song by BEP I wanted to share this week. It's called "OWN IT" and that's what I want you all to do, find your inspiration and own your future it is yours for the taking.

Dipdive | Beautiful Movements About

Dipdive | Beautiful Movements About

Overcoming Obstacles

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. ~Henry Ford

The past few weeks I have felt like a soldier in boot camp on an obstacle course: running, jumping, crawling under and climbing over any and everything that gets in my way in order to get to the finish line. Not only am I trying to finish ahead of the rest and push myself not only physically but mentally as well, I am running with a purpose - running towards a goal, in my hand I hold the key to my future - At that finish line is not only a monetary reward of actually completing the course, it is the beginning of my future.

In life as students who are also parents, managers, small business owners, and have full-time responsibilities obstacles are a daily part of our lives. How we deal with these shows character, integrity, and skill on our part - not only are we overcoming them for ourselves, we have people that look up to us for inspiration, people who wonder "How does he/she do it?" day to day.

I found this story about overcoming obstacles on InspirationalStories.com

"An old farmer had plowed around a large rock in one of his fields for years. He had broken several plowshares and a cultivator on it and had grown rather morbid about the rock.

After breaking another plowshare one day, and remembering all the trouble the rock had caused him through the years, he finally decided to do something about it.

When he put the crowbar under the rock, he was surprised to discover that it was only about six inches thick and that he could break it up easily with a sledgehammer. As he was carting the pieces away he had to smile, remembering all the trouble that the rock had caused him over the years and how easy it would have been to get rid of it sooner."

Sometimes we see something that is big and menacing coming our way - be it a school project, something at work, or a task in our personal live that seems as if it will get in the way of everything else. We, as individuals on a path to greatness, cannot come to these obstacles and stop. We must like the farmer plow right through, find a solution, and keep on moving - after all our the difference between our realities and our dreams are on the other side.

Be inspired, stay focused, and keep working hard - it will all pay off.

Welcome to the Balancing Act

As college students we face many obstacles on the journey to fulfilling our dreams and goals, including but not by far limited to financial, social, everyday decisions, and maintaining a sense of stability daily. The average college student is in their mid-twenties, a full-time student, and a part time worker facing all of the obstacles listed above not to mention many more. Finding purpose in life, maintaining financial stability, acquiring a daily balance of spiritual, physical, and mental wellness are all apart of our daily lives - it is our Balancing Act.

The Balancing Act was created to network with, uplift, inspire, and share tips with fellow students who are full are dreams and aspirations that are trying to find a balance between their present circumstances and future potential. Some of us have families to support, some of us are looking for peer support, some of us may have lost track of why we are working so hard and the ultimate goal that is trying to be achieved.
Here you will find daily encouragement, testimonials, and feedback from people just like you and me who are participating in their daily Balancing Act.

To get started I will tell you a little about myself. I am currently a returning college student and 26 years old. I have two retail jobs one full time and one part time to help cover living and college expenses, as well as a mountain of student loans and credit card debt. During my first tenure in college I obtained a degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta, but due to an intense work schedule like I currently have, my degree was bittersweet, a lot of times I was tired, missed work and or school, and was unable to perform at 100% - although I acquired the skills needed to make amazing designs and work effortlessly with clients I didn't put the time and effort into my portfolio and internships like I should have initially.

I quickly found it hard to sell myself as a designer with all the skills and a lackluster portfolio. After freelancing and continuing my retail career I have returned to school facing the same obstacles with a few more. I am now at a crossroads trying to decide between financial stability or completing my educational journal at 100% taking advantages of the tools, internships, and resources that are available to me currently. A social life, "me" time, family and friends are almost non existent, if I'm going from one job to the other, Im plastered in front of my computer and time is never on my side.

I'm sure many of you can relate and many of you are burning the candle from each end, here at the Balancing Act you are not alone, so feel free to share your stories, thoughts, and ideas with each other - your story may inspire, your tips may help, and you will find that you are not alone in your personal Balancing Act.

Thank You.