Life feels busier than ever — juggling work, family, and everything in between. I originally shared these tips back in 2018, and since then, I’ve learned even more about balancing study with life. This is the updated 2025 version, with practical advice to help you fit learning into your busy schedule and make real progress.
Investing in yourself by studying a new course is one of the best things you can do for your future — and for those around you. At Lewis College, we know that fitting study into “real life” isn’t always easy — but it is possible. Here are five tried-and-tested tips to help you study smarter, not harder (and maybe even enjoy it along the way).
1. Plan your week – not your year
Weekly planning is your best friend. Take just 10 minutes on a Sunday to look at what’s ahead. Spot those quieter moments and book them in as “study appointments”. When you treat them like meetings you can’t cancel, they’re far more likely to happen.
2. Find your rhythm: short bursts or deep focus
We all learn differently. Some students thrive on 30-minute daily sessions, while others prefer a few focused hours at the weekend. There’s no right answer — the best routine is the one you’ll actually stick to.
Experiment a bit and see what fits your life best.
3. Get the family involved (yes, even the kids!)
You don’t have to do it all alone. If you can, get your family on board with your study goals. Many of our students tell us their partners or children help create “quiet time” for study — or even join in by doing their own homework alongside them – a win-win for everyone! It’s also a great example to set — showing your children that learning never really stops.
Of course, there’ll be times when you need a bit more focus — which brings us to the next tip.
4. Create your ideal study zone
Peace and quiet might feel like a luxury, but it’s essential for those moments when you need to really concentrate. Find a spot where you can switch off from distractions — whether it’s a cosy corner, the kitchen table once the kids are in bed, or your favourite café.
Your “ideal study zone” doesn’t have to be silent — it just needs to help you get into the right mindset. A tidy, comfortable space can do wonders for motivation and focus.
5. Set milestones — and celebrate them
Finished a module? Submitted an assignment? Finished a study session without getting side-tracked by your phone? That deserves a celebration!
Treat yourself — whether it’s a glass of wine, a bar of chocolate, or an episode of your favourite show (without the guilt). Rewarding yourself keeps motivation high and makes the whole journey far more enjoyable.
💡 Final Thought
Balancing study with work, family, and life isn’t always easy — but it’s absolutely achievable with the right mindset, plan, and support.
At Lewis College, we’ve helped thousands of students fit learning around busy lives — from parents returning to education to professionals retraining for new careers.
Ready to take that next step?
👉 Explore our flexible online courses and discover how you can fit study around your world.
42 responses
Thank you Simon. I found the above tips extremely useful to manage my work load effectively.
Brilliant!
Excellent tips Simon thank you so much. I’m finding it hard to find some quiet in house at the moment.
Thank you Simon. Really useful and efficient tips for studying, easy to adapt even for a busy lifestyle.
A must read for every student!
Great
Great.
Fantastic
Thank you Simon for the tips! This really helped me balance my work life and studying more effective.
Thank Simon for the helpful tips!
Very useful tips Simon, many thanks.
Very useful tips! I will try to demonstrate this in my everyday working life.
Thank you for the tips my week is never the same so find it difficult to plan but these have tips have helped 🙂
Great tips, thank you for sharing.
Thank you Simon for the ideas. As a career woman and a mum these tips helps me to plan out my studying time.
useful tips thanks
Great tips Simon, I have set up a nice spreadsheet with the modules and a timeline for each module. The only thing left is to stick with it but sometimes life gets in the way.
Thankyou for the comments Simon,THIS AND YOUR ONLINE HELP HAS BEEN INVALUABLE
Thank You Simon for the useful ideas on how to juggle being a parent, work and study.
Great tips for all students.
These are some great tips for something I’ve been struggling with. Especially liking the the tip for getting the kids involved with domestic tasks 🙂
Thank you Simon for the very helpful tips.
Very useful tips for something I’ve been struggling with!
Thanks for the tips Simon, I try to get my studying done on my day off when there’s no-one else around.
I have found your tips for studying very useful. Thank you Simon.
Thank you Simon for the very helpful tips. These tips help me to plan out my studying time.
Really helpful post – thanks!
Really useful tips. Planning my studying ahead of time has helped me keep on top of it and stick to my goals. Thank you
Brilliant study tips here and really helpful. Thank you Simon 🙂
Valuable tips for studying. Thank you Simon 🙂
This was a really helpful post to help me with my studying thank you Simon! 🙂
This advice has been very valuable for my studying, thank you Simon!
Reading this through has been a great help, and a reminder to set a study plan for each week with a goal at the end. Helping, sticking to an achievable and manageable time scale with positive results.
Very useful tips to help with my studying.
Thank you Simon! Extremely valuable tips for my studying.
Very useful tips, thank you!
Thank you for the above tips they’re so helpful. I struggle with juggling my time so planning my week has made it so much easier to focus on study and allow others to not disturb me when studying.
These are very useful tips that i will try to apply.
Thank you
Thank you Simon. These are very useful tips.
Really useful hint and tips. The most important for me is setting daily and weekly goals and push myself to gain it.
Thank you for your very useful tips. Planning my week and setting goals has made a difference with my studying!
Thank you, Simon. I found listed hints and tips very useful.
They will definitely help me to plan for success in my studies.
Such useful tips to help make studying part of your life! Thanks Simon.
Thank you for Simon! I have found your blogs very informative! Keep it up!
Thank you, The tips and advice listed are great!
Thank you Simon for useful hints and tips.