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Work-life balance refers to the idea of equally splitting your time between study and your personal life. As I am sure all of you can agree, this is pretty difficult to do when studying, working, doing extracurriculars, having time for friends and family, etc. Now that we are in Week 11, the idea of a work-life balance seems especially unreachable

If you are a university student, you have probably seen a post like this before:

Now I agree that I don’t think the ideal work-life balance involves equally splitting every aspect of your life or making use of every single minute of the day. We are only given 24 hours in a day. Just because there aren’t enough hours in the day to do absolutely everything, that doesn’t mean you can’t do a little bit of everything.

We all just need to find the best way to achieve our goals in the best way that works for us. If you continue reading this blog, you might be able to help find this inner equilibrium that works for you.

Today we will cover:

• How to organise study sessions
• How to look after yourself
• How to balance social life/relationships

How to organise study sessions

It does not matter if you are studying for 30 hours a week if those 30 hours are not being used to their full potential. Your study sessions should be organised to maximise effective time management.

One of the best things to do is to create a study schedule. Break down larger tasks into smaller, actionable steps. By staying organized, you’ll minimize procrastination and maximize your academic success.

Additionally, it is much easier to avoid procrastination if you go into each study session with a goal, as studying with no direction is not effective. Ensure that you outline what you aim to achieve by the conclusion of each study session to provide guidance and maintain focus on your tasks. Set achievable goals, as making your goals realistic is key to avoiding burnout.

QUALITY > QUANTITY

To get the most effective results in as little study time as possible, try to figure out your most productive work time. Study sessions should be arranged according to your peak energy periods throughout the day. Some individuals are most alert and concentrated in the morning, while others thrive and prefer to study during the afternoon or late evening when distractions are minimal.

Moreover, establish time constraints. Your peak productivity typically occurs within the first 25 to 30 minutes of studying, so many people find it helpful to organise your study sessions into 30-minute intervals with 5 to 10-minute breaks (check out the Pomodoro technique).

How to look after yourself

Navigating university life can be exhilarating yet challenging, usually accompanied by stressors that can impact your well-being. Ensure you prioritise self-care as a non-negotiable part of your routine. It doesn’t matter what you do for self-care as long as it works for you, the main thing is actually treating it as a priority.

Incorporate relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or spending time in nature, and ensure you nourish your body with nutritious meals, hydration, and regular exercise (yes I know you have heard this 100 times before, but I am going to say it 101 times because I know you aren’t doing it properly…).

Cultivating mindfulness practices can go a long way to stay grounded and present. Ensure you take regular breaks to reset focus and check in with yourself. Remember to celebrate your progress and practice self-compassion during setbacks, knowing that taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health is essential for academic success and overall happiness.

How to balance social life/relationships

University is a time when many people feel pressure to maintain a social life because “these are the best social years of your life”. Although sometimes it feels like making the time for social activities can get in the way of academic performance, balancing social life and relationships while navigating university is essential for overall well-being and academic success.

Effective communication is key; be transparent about your availability and academic workload with friends, family, and partners. Focus on quality over quantity in your social interactions, nurturing meaningful connections with individuals who support and uplift you.

Find a balance between independence and togetherness, allowing space for both personal pursuits and shared experiences. Get involved in campus activities and events to meet new people and foster a sense of community. However, if you can’t see each other in person, accessing these things online using platforms like Discord can be a good alternative.

Effective time management is still key. You must embrace flexibility in your social plans, understanding that academic responsibilities may occasionally take precedence.

BONUS

PUT AWAY THAT PHONE. I’m talking while studying…and before bed. Humans are not as good at multitasking as we think. We also suck at functioning while on little sleep. Ensure you put that phone away before bed to prevent doom-scrolling until 2am.