Many PHS students have jobs outside of attending school. Sometimes it can be difficult to manage both without stress taking over your life.

Here are 10 tips to help you succeed in working while also being a full-time student:

1. Take up boxing (or at least some kind of activity where you can hit things legally). Having to deal with people at school and at work can be super stressful – especially if you aren’t a people-person. By taking up boxing, you can relieve your stress by punching something without going to jail on charges of battery.
2. Get loads of sleep. I understand that binge-watching American Horror Story on Netflix until 1:00 in the morning might seem like a good idea to you but in reality, it’s setting you up for failure the next day. You can’t accomplish a 4.0 GPA by sleeping in class and you can’t uphold a job if you sleep all day (unless you work for NASA as a human-lab rat testing human hibernation).
3. Start an addiction. Most people drink some form of caffeine in the morning, whether it’s coffee, tea or some kind of energy drink. Caffeine is a stimulant, meaning that it activates your brain. In other words, if you’re absolutely exhausted on your way to work or school, a little caffeine can go a long way.
4. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. If you’re trying to balance work and school at the same time, procrastination will be academic suicide. Get work done ahead of schedule so deadlines don’t creep up on you and add to your stress. You may believe you can get it done last minute, but I assure you… the work WILL pile up.
5. Have fun. You cannot be all work and no play – that’s no way to live. You may not have a ton of free-time outside of work and school, but take advantage of the time you have to yourself. Hang out with friends, go to a movie, go for a jog or do something to give yourself a break from working too hard.
6. Eat healthy. I know french fries, pizza and ice cream are amazing, I love them too. With that said, they aren’t healthy. Fruits, vegetables and protein are nutrients you need to keep running and they contain natural energy and vitamins you need. Unhealthy foods will just exhaust you more and give you a sense of fatigue. Eating healthy will put you on your A-game.
7. Don’t get caught up in drama. Whether it’s at work or at school, any kind of drama can distract you from reaching your goals. One of my coworkers just lost his job for bringing outside drama into the workplace. Drama also makes working in the classroom difficult; people are easier to work with when drama is pushed to the sidelines.
8. Be a problem solver. Don’t wait around for someone to solve your problems for you. If you want to get things done, you have to go out and do it yourself. Otherwise, you’re just wasting time. I’m not saying you shouldn’t ask for advice, but advice is a good thing. However, you’ll learn more by discovering the answers for yourself.
9. Be easy to work with. In order to be successful, you have to be flexible and stubbornness will get you nowhere. Work and school alike will be a better environment if you, your classmates or coworkers are easygoing and flexible. Work for yourself but also help others out and most times, it will be reciprocated.
10. Don’t be lazy. Laziness and negligence are common characteristics of many teens. With that said, do NOT exhibit those behaviors. Work hard. Hard work pays off and looks good to employers and teachers. If you put every ounce of effort you can muster into everything you do, then failure will be impossible.