Five quick tips to balance school with an internship

by Abigale Locklear

It can be incredibly stressful going to school full-time while simultaneously having an internship. However – to jump start your career – succeeding in the classroom while gaining the necessary workplace experience is an important step. Here are five quick tips you can implement immediately that’ll help you thrive as both a student and intern.

1. Keep a detailed calendar

Write down your daily tasks and homework assignments to ensure things are being done in a timely manner and prevent procrastination and stress. I keep organized by using Google Calendar to sort my classes and internships and remind me to complete certain tasks. If you’d prefer to use a different tool, Apple Calendar; Microsoft Outlook; and many others can also do the trick.

2. Take time for yourself

With school and internships, the overwhelming schedule can get stressful quickly. Take some time out of your day to relax and de-stress. In addition to keeping a calendar and scheduling time for school and work, block time out of your day to relax. Whether it’s 30 minutes or an hour, your brain needs the rest it deserves! I prefer to go on a walk during my break to stimulate brain function, but you can spend your break however you like.

3. Get plenty of sleep

It’s important to get a good start to your day; exhaustion can prevent you from paying attention in class and in meetings. Ensure you get plenty of sleep – doing so will help you stay engaged whether you’re attending activities in person or online. I use a bedtime reminder on my phone to tell me what time I should be hitting the sack.

4. Separate work and school

 When getting an internship, you most likely will be given a company email, computer or other materials. It can be complicated to keep up with information coming in all directions, so ensure your materials are organized and separated to prevent miscommunication. School versus work is easy to mix up, which is why my calendar is especially important to keeping my time separated between the two.

5. Soak it all in

 Enjoy your time as an intern! It’s a beneficial learning experience and a good way to gain exposure to an organization’s working environment and habits. With great mentors, you should soak all the information in like a sponge and just have fun! Getting to meetings early and knowing your coworkers and supervisors all helps you appreciate the experience and gain knowledge that you will use for years to come.

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