(Simple strategies for balancing study, finance-related work, and personal time)
We all get 24 hours in a day. But some people seem to use those hours so efficiently, it’s as if they have more time than the rest of us! They study, work, spend time with family, and still manage to care for themselves. Meanwhile, most of us end our hectic days wondering, “Where did all the time go?”
Especially for those balancing studies with finance-related work—like freelancing, investments, accounting, consulting, or business planning—time management becomes a real challenge.
In this article, we’ll explore how you can:
- Take control of your time
- Juggle multiple important tasks
- And actually turn your goals into reality
📌 1. Understand the Meaning of Time – It’s About Progress, Not Just the Clock
First, remember this: time is not just about the ticking clock. It’s about how well you move toward your goals.
If you’re both studying and working, your time is even more valuable. So you must learn to use it smartly.
✅ Action Steps:
- Every night, make a small To-Do List for the next day
- Next to each task, note whether it’s for: Study / Income / Personal
- Choose one main goal per day – even if it’s just for 1 hour
📌 2. Forget Multitasking – Use Time Blocking Instead!
Most people try to do everything at once and end up doing none of it properly. If you’re half-listening to a class while drafting a financial report, you’re not truly focused on either.
✅ Action Steps:
Use the Time Blocking technique – allocate dedicated time slots for each task.
Example: Time Task 6 AM – 8 AM Study 8 AM – 9 AM Breakfast + Refresh 9 AM – 1 PM Finance-related work 1 PM – 2 PM Lunch + Rest 2 PM – 4 PM Online class / Self-study 4 PM – 6 PM Client meetings / Reporting 8 PM – 9 PM Personal time (books, family)
📌 3. How to Manage Finance Work Alongside Study
Many students now try to earn money online—via YouTube, freelancing, or stock trading. But without a clear plan, both academics and income suffer.
✅ Tips:
- Reserve at least 2–3 hours a day only for studying
- Schedule work within typical office hours (9 AM – 6 PM) so you can easily communicate with clients
- Choose income sources that are flexible (e.g., freelancing, content writing, selling online courses)
📌 4. Learn to Say “No”
We often say yes to everything—friend’s projects, household chores, extra classes, free consulting. Then we realize, we haven’t done our own work.
✅ Action Steps:
- Every “yes” costs you a piece of your time
- Politely say no to anything that pulls you away from your main priorities (study + income)
📌 5. Use Technology to Help You
Today, technology can play a powerful role in time management.
✅ Useful Apps:
- Google Calendar – For time scheduling
- Notion / Trello – To track tasks and goals
- Pomodoro Timer – To stay focused in short bursts
- Forest App – Helps you stay away from your phone during study
📌 6. No Self-Blame – Focus on Self-Growth
We often beat ourselves up: “I can’t do it,” “I don’t have time,” “I’m not as productive as others.” These thoughts can paralyze you.
✅ Action Steps:
- Once a week, review your past 7 days:
→ What did you complete?
→ Where did you lose time?
→ How can you improve next week? - Don’t punish yourself—reward yourself when you complete tasks on time
📌 7. Without a Healthy Mind & Body, Nothing Works
If you only work and study all day, you’ll burn out. You’ll lose focus and energy.
✅ Action Steps:
- Get at least 6–7 hours of sleep daily
- Do light exercise or walk regularly
- Occasionally take a “digital detox” – stay off devices for a few hours
📌 8. Focus vs Your Phone
Your smartphone is the biggest time-waster. Before you know it, you’ve spent hours scrolling social media or watching YouTube.
✅ Action Steps:
- Keep your phone on Do Not Disturb during work
- Set app time limits on social media
- During study or work, leave your phone in a separate room
📌 9. Find Your Motivation Source
You’ll only use your time well if your why is strong. If you know why you’re doing something, you’ll always make time for it.
✅ Action Steps:
- Write down your personal goal – on paper or phone
- Read it every morning before you start your day
- Read stories of people who balanced study + career successfully
📌 10. Small Wins → Big Success
Small daily achievements build the path to long-term success. Studied for 30 minutes today? Completed a client task tomorrow? That’s your ladder to growth.
✅ Action Steps:
- Every night, write down what you accomplished today
- At the end of the week, reward yourself – your favorite food, movie night, or a day off
✍️ Conclusion: You Don’t “Find” Time — You Create It
If you keep asking, “Where will I find the time?”, you may never find it.
But if you tell yourself, “I will create time for what matters,” you will begin to shape your own schedule.
Time is not your enemy — if you can make it your ally.
💬 Your Turn:
Now that you’ve read this, do three things today:
- Create a To-Do List for tomorrow
- Block out time separately for study and work
- Tell yourself:
“I can make time — if I choose to.”