Balancing College + Job + MMA? Anyone do it? Thoughts?

[Symbolistic]

So this is the thing, I want to focus on College and MMA, and I am dedicated and ready to do it.

But the thing is, I need money if I want to continually go to MMA, I have to continually pay for it. If I need that kind of money, I need a job, obviously.


Basically what I do right now is I go to College, Gym 3 days a week, and swim 1-2 days a week. I'd like to cut down on the swimming a bit, and maybe even the gym, and attend MMA + have a job.

My main priorities will be College and MMA.
Right now I have pretty easy college classes, so it would be the perfect time for me to get used to this.

So my question to you is, have any of you done this before? Or what are you thoughts on this?
This is something I seriously, really, want to do.

Do you guys know of any good jobs that would work with a crazy schedule like mine?

 

[flowers tiger]

I did boxing and bjj back in college and it was way too hard to manage my time with schoolwork and a library job

I had to drop the bjj

You can try to do mma and work and be in school but it will be hard
Remember that for now school is the most important and don't be afraid to drop something if its taking up too much of your time

As for what type of jobs you could get that work with your schedule? Try finding a work study position at your college. Work at a library, be a cashier at a bookstore, work in an office.

 

[adamsilva]

I've done it before but it was hell.
I'm double majoring in Biology and Psychology, I was bartending/managing, and training bjj. I did this for about 3 months and got completely worn down and started getting injured more frequently and it would take longer for little nagging things to heal up

If your classes aren't too bad any kind of night job would be easy to fit into most people's schedules. If you are experienced in MMA and/or a larger guy getting a job as a bouncer would be pretty good since you could start pretty quickly.
If not bar-tending hours/pay are great but many places want licensed people or experience.
What college do you go to?

 

[Symbolistic]

I've done it before but it was hell.
I'm double majoring in Biology and Psychology, I was bartending/managing, and training bjj. I did this for about 3 months and got completely worn down and started getting injured more frequently and it would take longer for little nagging things to heal up

If your classes aren't too bad any kind of night job would be easy to fit into most people's schedules. If you are experienced in MMA and/or a larger guy getting a job as a bouncer would be pretty good since you could start pretty quickly.
If not bar-tending hours/pay are great but many places want licensed people or experience.
What college do you go to?

I'm in a 2 year college in NY, Queens
My classes aren't too bad, next semester will be bad, with Biology and Chemistry

Right now I'm applying at Starbucks and Whole Foods

 

[Mike Piekarski]

With obligations like this you really have to have good time management skills. I was in a similar situation where I wanted a fighting career, part time work and part time school. I couldn't sustain the life style very long even while living with my dad. In the end I had to make a choice which was what is a greater priority and for me it was school. I'm finishing up my graduate degree in a few months so now if it is something I want to return to it will be an option.

That being said while I was in grad school I still found plenty of time to train because I managed my time.

 

[Symbolistic]

With obligations like this you really have to have good time management skills. I was in a similar situation where I wanted a fighting career, part time work and part time school. I couldn't sustain the life style very long even while living with my dad. In the end I had to make a choice which was what is a greater priority and for me it was school. I'm finishing up my graduate degree in a few months so now if it is something I want to return to it will be an option.

That being said while I was in grad school I still found plenty of time to train because I managed my time.

what kind of work did you do if you don't mind me asking?

 

[j123]

I'm doing this now, to be fair I have no life outside work and mma/MT. I work an office 9-5. I do conditioning stuff in the morning (6:30-7:30am) and skill work + sparring at night (6-9pm). Its fine. When I compete, I just use my vacation days for it.

Now if someone was working a heavy duty physical job, I don't think it will work, but for me its perfect

 

[adamsilva]

I'm in a 2 year college in NY, Queens
My classes aren't too bad, next semester will be bad, with Biology and Chemistry

Right now I'm applying at Starbucks and Whole Foods

Cool man you are in a great spot as far as quality of training. Let me know if you have any chem/bio questions down the road, I'd be glad to help!

 

[MarcoW]

I'm currently in 6 university classes, have a job, and I do Karate /Jujitsu 5 hours a week... I can't fit in anymore time.
But I started doing 2 hours of longsword training as well recently.
The schedule is OK, the hard part is the homework, sometimes when I want to go to the dojo, I will have to stay home and do a homework assignment.
I had to cut out the 1 trip to the gym a week I was doing, but will pick it back up when Im done school (soon).
And I only work 6-12 hours per week.

Its a tough schedule

 

[Kalma]

Work 60hrs , part time (ish...I'm way behind) university and try to get to bjj classes. I cant really make it all work to be honest. There are only 168 hrs in a week. I can write down a desired timetable and try to make it work. The things I find hard to deal with a recovery and sleep.

The more loaded your schedule the less sleep and for me personally this f*%ked with everything in the long run. Some people can do the 3-5 hrs sleep per night and be sweet. It come down to your own body and you understanding where the balance is between optimal, nearly optimal and too far.

 

[Symbolistic]

Well I just got a job, at a fast food place... yeah sucks, but it pays $10 an hour, and I get a free meal. Its Chipotle by the way.
So now I guess the wheels are beginning to turn, they said I will probably be able to start next week.

So the wheels will really start turning then, once I make a decent amount of money I'll go back into MMA, I already know the school I'll attend, this will be hard but I really want it and I'm willing to work my ass off to do it.

 

[jr jr]

Well I just got a job, at a fast food place... yeah sucks, but it pays $10 an hour, and I get a free meal. Its Chipotle by the way.
So now I guess the wheels are beginning to turn, they said I will probably be able to start next week.

So the wheels will really start turning then, once I make a decent amount of money I'll go back into MMA, I already know the school I'll attend, this will be hard but I really want it and I'm willing to work my ass off to do it.

Nothing wrong with honest hard work, fast food or otherwise. Good job.

 

[Badger67]

Something will always have to suffer be it work, training, study or sleep. You need very effective time management skills and to make sacrifices and basically have very little social life.
I'd be in a good position right now (took a semester off to work a 25.25$/hr job that paid my semester and then some) but i had an incident with my former roommate that is resulting in a lot of legal complications and threats. Otherwise, i wouldn't have to work until summer and could enjoy my life.

Maybe look at taking a semester off in the future, or training less during the school year but going hard during summer months?

As far as good jobs during semesters...try to stay on campus if possible, or work near your mma club. Shorter transitions between travel time = more time for you.
This can include tutoring, TA'ing, or student jobs on campus in the cafeteria etc.

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

I'm in a 2 year college in NY, Queens
My classes aren't too bad, next semester will be bad, with Biology and Chemistry

Right now I'm applying at Starbucks and Whole Foods

Maybe it's just because I gotta support someone else from Queens, but I say give it a shot. Just because nobody on here has done it (and maybe they have done it), doesn't mean you can't. It's gonna be tough, sure. You will have to find a schedule where your classes and work schedule still allow you time to make classes.

Where are you training? Got a car? It will help if you can train somewhere close to school and/or work. In my experience juggling school/work and BJJ, it was travel time that killed me. If you're training in the City but going to school in Queens, that's gonna make it real hard. If you're taking a bus or the subway, make those dedicated study times to get your work done.

 

[Symbolistic]

Maybe it's just because I gotta support someone else from Queens, but I say give it a shot. Just because nobody on here has done it (and maybe they have done it), doesn't mean you can't. It's gonna be tough, sure. You will have to find a schedule where your classes and work schedule still allow you time to make classes.

Where are you training? Got a car? It will help if you can train somewhere close to school and/or work. In my experience juggling school/work and BJJ, it was travel time that killed me. If you're training in the City but going to school in Queens, that's gonna make it real hard. If you're taking a bus or the subway, make those dedicated study times to get your work done.

The distance between the college and the MMA gym is pretty big, like an hour+
The distance between my job and the MMA gym is much shorter

I am training in the city, but I take the A train and F train to reach the gym, it is almost an hour long from my home, as for my job, it only takes 30 minutes to reach it from my home.

Its just my school that is far away, but with my schedule right now, I have Sunday, Monday, and Friday free, no school those days.

 

[Se4n]

Quality over quantity. Just because you are squeezing in training doesn't mean it will be a valiant effort. Say for instance, you cut 2-3 hours of sleep because you had to juggle all of these activities, your training will suffer because you will be fatigued, lack energy, and lack of sleep results in more injuries. Your school will suffer because you will be groggy in class and have trouble focusing. Work will already suck enough as it is. Weigh your priorities.

 

[IceWolf]

Dude, you can totally do this. Just say goodbye to parties and chilling with friends who aren't training buddies. Also hope your lady understands/ is cool with it. (Important! lol)

I currently am taking 14 hours at Texas Tech and I am training everyday, and working part time. It's a busy, full schedule, and it can get hectic, but still very doable. Just believe in yourself and don't sacrifice sleep, it's very important. TBH I sleep better because every hour of my day is spent actively engaged with something.

Don't limit yourself man, you will be surprised with how strong you actually are.

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

The distance between the college and the MMA gym is pretty big, like an hour+
The distance between my job and the MMA gym is much shorter

I am training in the city, but I take the A train and F train to reach the gym, it is almost an hour long from my home, as for my job, it only takes 30 minutes to reach it from my home.

Its just my school that is far away, but with my schedule right now, I have Sunday, Monday, and Friday free, no school those days.

So try and make it so that you have the least travel time. Try and get work hours that let you train just before or just after work (hope the gym has a shower). Do your reading and stuff on the subway, forget about your iPhone and stuff like that when you're in transit.

 

[Mcmoon]

I've done it. When getting my bachelors I was a full time student, worked part time and was doing mma/bjj 4-5 times a week. I would also go to the gym a couple times a week as well. A lot of people will say I missed a lot of stuff in college but they weren't all that important too me. I didn't go to parties or just hang out with friends except maybe on the weekend. It most definitely can be done.

 

[Gambledub]

I was studying full time and managed to work 30 hours a week, while training BJJ at least 4 times a week too, so it's certainly possible. I was lucky though, it was first year and my classes were popular so you had the choice of which one you went too eg 11-12 or 2-3, I had 3 classes a day, went to BJJ at lunch and then worked from 5-11.30 pm. Second year my schedule was tougher, so I quit one of my jobs so I could train. That first year was awesome, I was super busy but I was making a bunch of money. I paid for a year of BJJ up front in cash lol.