Balancing a Degree Apprenticeship in cybersecurity, especially at a Big 4 firm, is no small task. As a 19 year old in my second year, I’ve realised how easy it is to want to procrastinate when juggling work, coursework, revision and trying to maintain a social life. The “I’ll do it later” mindset is tempting but it just makes things harder in the long run. Over time, I’ve picked up a few strategies to stay on top of things so I’ll be sharing them with you all!
The first step is understanding your priorities. When your schedule is packed, it’s easy to focus on what feels urgent rather than what’s actually important. To avoid this- break tasks into three categories: critical now, upcoming soon and ongoing goals. Critical tasks are those that need doing immediately, like submitting coursework or meeting deadlines at work. Upcoming soon tasks are things a week or two away that require steady progress. Ongoing goals are bigger-picture items, like studying for certifications or improving technical skills. Having this structure stops me from feeling overwhelmed and ensures I’m always working on what matters most.
One trick that’s helped me avoid procrastinating is the 10-minute rule. If I feel like I’m putting off starting something, I tell myself I’ll work on it for just 10 minutes. By the time those 10 minutes are up, I’m usually in the zone and keep going. It’s a small mental trick but it’s surprisingly effective. Sometimes, the hardest part of a task is just getting started.
Another key is building a routine that works for you. If you know you’re sharpest in the morning- use that time for focused work, like planning your approach to your coursework or solving technical problems. Then, your afternoons will be better for meetings or lighter tasks and you can use your evenings for studying or catching up on assignments. Everyone’s routine will look different but finding a rhythm and sticking to it makes a huge difference.
One thing I’ve learned is that multitasking is a trap! It might feel like you’re being productive when you’re working on two things at once but in reality, you’re just splitting your focus and doing both poorly. Whether it’s coursework or tasks at work, focusing on one thing at a time helps me get through it faster and with better results.
Finally, it’s important to reward yourself. Finishing a report or submitting an assignment feels a lot better when you know there’s something fun waiting at the end of it. It could be going out with friends, watching your favourite show, or treating yourself to something nice. Small rewards make the grind more bearable and help keep you motivated!
At the end of the day, procrastination is something we all deal with but managing it is key to staying on top of things in a demanding role like a degree apprenticeship. Break things down, start small and remember to celebrate the wins, no matter how small they seem.
