The start of a new year is a great time to redefine your priorities and goals while also creating new habits related to organization and time management. It can be overwhelming trying to manage both your school and work responsibilities to find balance. Here are some tips for optimizing your time when you’re both a student and an employee.

Keep your calendar organized.

Find a calendar system that works for you, and make sure to update it regularly with all your obligations and upcoming deadlines. Make it a habit of looking at your calendar each night before bed or in the morning when you wake up, so you don’t forget anything.

Plan your work schedule in advance.

Make your work schedule conducive to your school schedule and allow ample time for studying. Let your supervisor know your availability well in advance. Request to work the same shifts each week, which can help you to maintain a consistent schedule with school and studying.

Optimize your school schedule.

If you are commuting to school, try to minimize driving time to and from campus. Schedule your classes close together on specific days rather than having them spread out throughout the week. If you live on campus, this strategy will also benefit you by maximizing your time.

Prioritizing schoolwork.

Rank assignments by when they are due and how much of your final grade they are worth. For example, spend more time studying for an exam worth 30% of your final grade over a homework assignment worth only 5%. Also, prioritize assignments due sooner.

Minimize distractions.

A big part of managing your time is learning how to minimize distractions. For instance, if you put away your phone while you are studying, you’ll get it done a lot quicker. Then you can set aside time to return calls or messages all at once rather than being interrupted numerous times.

Don’t be afraid to say no.

There are only so many hours in a day, which means you can’t do it all. Try to be realistic, and don’t be afraid to say no. If you know you are going to be having a particularly busy week, then don’t make new commitments.