Most of us have been in situations where we were counting pennies and eating ramen. Being broke sucks, and as a college student, this seems to be the rite of passage before things get better. Some students take the initiative of working a part-time job. Even though this can put a strain on their social life and cause some degree of stress, working part-time has plenty of benefits that will pay off in the long run.
In this article, we’ll take a look at four benefits to having a side hustle as a student, besides the obvious reason for making extra cash. If you’re making that tough decision, then read on!
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Time Management
This is a common, talked-about benefit parents nag about. But let’s put a twist to it since we are now in an era where the digital age has changed the way we work. I believe that the best part time jobs are the ones that allow you some flexibility to set your own schedule, and these are often online, deadline-based jobs such as proofreading and writing. In traditional jobs such as in the F&B industry, your supervisor would arrange your shifts, and you will have to manage your days accordingly.
By having more control of your time, the stakes are higher because it’s easier to procrastinate or “don’t feel like it” to the last minute. You have to set yourself accountable for not meeting deadlines, and this is a valuable discipline that all students should have.
Learning to Say “No”
In the workforce, you need to be able to differentiate between taking one for the team and being a pushover. There will be situations where your boss expects you to work overtime when it coincides with a bunch of your assignment deadlines, exams, and all sorts of academic-related burdens. While nobody wants to let their superior down, this is where you need to step back, reassess your situation and tell them you can’t do it.
You can avoid these tough situations by managing your time wisely (sacrifice that party to get some work done!), and inform your boss that you will be very busy for a certain period. They will appreciate that early notice and may even respect you for being firm about it.
Being able to say “no” doesn’t make you a bad employee, and it frees you up for more productive and/or valuable things you need to work on!
You Become Empowered
It doesn’t matter if you are working part-time the “traditional” way or landed an online gig. When you have control over your finances and time, on top of the realization you have the ability to improve yourself even on minimum wage, you develop some sense of self-empowerment. You no longer have to wait hopelessly for the loan disbursement day.
Being self-empowered is crucial in gaining inner confidence, especially when you’ve been doing a good job and your boss offers your a promotion. The self-empowerment effect is a gradual and cumulative uphill slope, but over time you will see it in the way you treat yourself and the people around you.
You Appreciate Money More
There’s no way you can deny this. When you work hard for your money, you are less likely to blow it away at senseless parties. This doesn’t mean that you won’t have fun, but you master the art of budgeting and knowing your limits. You start rationalizing your expenses and think about how many hours of work is worth a night out with your buddies. You may even choose healthier activities to join that benefit your mental, physical, and emotional health such as camping with like-minded individuals.
