It’s that time of year again. The kids are getting ready for another school year and lots of adults (including yours truly) are getting ready to go back, too! Taking classes while working is a whole different ball-game. There isn’t one way to do it perfectly, but here are some tips that may help if you find yourself getting ready to hit the books this week in addition to holding down a full-time job.

1. Protect your sleep

This is a big one for me. It’s not like when I was in my 20s and could pull an all-nighter and then go take an exam the next day. Sleep is a must. At this point you likely know how much you need. Guard it.

2. Meal prep

Keep easy options available such as Greek yogurt with fruit, overnight oats, hard-boiled eggs, hummus with veggies, turkey/chicken wraps, nuts and fruit, or grain/veggie/protein bowls. I use paper plates sometimes as a break at home to cut down on washing dishes. Think of meals that are super easy and put them on rotation. If you order groceries it is very easy to keep ordering the same things which makes it simple to do.

3. Schedule your meals

When work and school get crazy, it’s easy to realize at 8 PM that you’ve basically survived on coffee. Your calendar should include time to eat.

4. Keep a water bottle with you

Work + commuting + classes + studying = forgetting to hydrate. I struggle with staying hydrated when I’m not busy. So I make an extra effort to keep that water bottle with me.

5. Use movement as a study break

You don’t need an hour at the gym! In fact, you might not have time for it if you are going to classes in addition to your job. If you do, and it’s a high priority for you, that is great. But if you just want to keep active, try:

• 10-minute walks: you can break a few of these up throughout the day
• Stretch between study sessions
• Take the stairs, or park further away than usual
• Walk while listening to recorded lectures

6. Don’t make caffeine your meal replacement

Coffee can help with alertness, but it shouldn’t become breakfast, lunch, and your snack before dinner!

7. Create a “minimum viable workout.”

For busy weeks, decide beforehand what counts as enough—maybe 15–20 minutes of movement, whether that’s walking, jogging, riding your bike, or whatever. This keeps you from falling into the “I can’t do my normal workout, so I’ll do nothing” trap.

8. Give yourself one night off

You are allowed to have an evening where you aren’t working, studying, meal-prepping, exercising, or being productive! For me, that is usually Friday night because that is when I need it the most.

9. Batch your tasks

Instead of constantly switching between work, school, errands, and studying, group similar tasks together. Your brain will thank you.

10. Put appointments on the calendar now

Dental visits, physicals, screenings, prescription refills, etc. Don’t wait until your schedule becomes completely packed to plug in those mundane tasks that are too easy to let fall off your calendar.

11. Watch your stress signals

Irritability, headaches, poor sleep, constantly feeling rushed, difficulty concentrating, and losing interest in things you normally enjoy can all be signs that you’re overloaded.

12. Don’t forget your “why”

You’re building something for your future—but you shouldn’t have to completely destroy your present to get there! Remind yourself why you are doing this in the first place. That helps motivate you on the hard days. Going back to school while working can feel more like a marathon than a 5k. It’s important to be able to sustain your level of effort without burning out. And before you know it, graduation day will be here and you can be proud of your accomplishment.