The concept of ‘Work-Life balance’isn’t just applicable to those people who are trying to achieve a balance between their work and family life; achieving a reasonable work-life balance can be one of the challenges of being a student too; with many desperately trying to juggle study with work and a social life.
Gone are the days when university life was about part-time study and lots of partying; with ever increasing fees, and more mature students with a family to take care of, earning while learning has become the norm and even essential.
And as if study combined with work was not enough; there are the extracurricular activities and social events that go hand in hand with studying at university for a degree. Starting with Freshers Week students are enticed and encouraged to sign up to one or more of the exciting range of societies, groups and clubs such as Bellringing and Rock climbing and attend social events such as the ‘Fresher’s Fair’ and ‘Combat party’.
Unfortunately, by the time Christmas arrives (3 months into the first academic term) I see more and more students who are at breaking point, trying but failing to satisfy the demands of their tutors, their boss and friends and family.
Work-Life Balance: So How can you Juggle Study with Work and a Social Life?
The only way that you can satisfactorily juggle study, work and a social life is by being incredibly organised, disciplined, and by knowing your limits; and it begins with effective planning and establishing a routine that works for you.
Develop a study plan
It’s important that you have enough time for study (after all that should be the main reason why you’re at university or college), so begin the task of managing your time effectively by looking at the commitments of your chosen course:
As soon as you receive your course timetable, and have an idea of when your assignments are due, draw up a weekly study timetable and decide which will be the best times for you to do your studying – mornings, evenings or weekends. Also try to factor in extra time (say a couple of hours per week) to take into account unexpected heavy work loads or time for revision.
Drawing up a weekly study timetable can help you to focus your time, and help you to determine which hours, on which days, you have available for other things such as part-time work and family and friends. Of course they’ll be occasions when you’ll find it difficult to stick rigidly to your study plan e.g. if you are sick, and at these times try setting yourself one goal for the day, or two or three for the week. That way you will still be ‘moving forward’ and then as soon as you are over the blip, go straight back to your study plan and use any dead time available e.g. when you’re travelling, to catch up a bit with your study.
Manage your time and prioritise
Staying organised is one of the best ways to save time; file away lecture notes straight away so that you can find them easily when you need to refer to them. If possible, re-read your lecture notes and expand on them as soon as possible, while the lecture is still fresh in your mind.
Prioritise your tasks; work out which tasks are most important and make sure they get done, don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t complete the minor ones, carry them over to the following week.
Choose a job that is flexible and fits in with your study pattern
Depending upon your circumstances you may need to consider some kind of part-time work. Look at your study plan and decide when you will work, but make sure that it doesn’t interfere too much with your studies. Most universities recommend that you only work 12-15 hours per week (they do this for a reason) so try and stick to this limit. Remember that a part time job which involves long hours, may help you financially in the short term, but could have a negative impact on long-term job prospects if you fail to get a good degree.
Choose a job that fits in with your study pattern; for example, at the university where I work, many students work an evening shift at a call centre between the hours of 6-10, two or three times per week.
Don’t take a job that’s too mentally demanding or tiring and make sure that you don’t over-commit to working more hours than you’re comfortable with. It’s better to target a lower number of hours to work in the beginning, you can always do more hours/shifts later when you settle into your new study routine.
When you get a job make sure that you are paid at least the minimum wage, £4.98 for people under 21 and £6.08 for people over the age of 21 (as of Aug 2012 seewww.direct.gov.uk ) If work is going to take you away from your studies and family and friends then it has to be worth your while.
Some jobs pay commission only, meaning you only earn money on sales you make, I would advise that you think carefully about these kinds of jobs as, unless you are a brilliant sales person, you could be wasting a lot of time not making any sales and therefore any money.
On a positive note, not only will part-time work keep the wolf from the door, it will also help you get to know yourself better – your likes and dislikes and your values, and boost your employability when you graduate.
If you can, try to look for work that will be beneficial to the career area/job that you are interested in or find a job that will develop certain employability skills that you feel you lack or are weak such as communication and presentation skills and teamwork.
Study should always come first; you need to ensure that you find a job, where the employer is understanding and willing to be flexible as you may need to do less hours some weeks when, e.g. you have deadlines for coursework, or during exams. Unfortunately, you may do a disservice to yourself by discussing the potential flexibility of the job role up front, it would be best to accept the job and show your boss that you are hard-working and reliable, and then after a few months you will be in a better position to discuss flexible hours or working less hours at times when you have exams.
Universities and their students union often have their own job shops and temporary job schemes that offer work at the university itself; these jobs are great because you won’t have to waste time travelling to and from work, and the jobs are often flexible to fit in with your course timetable.
Socialising and family time
Last but not least, look at your study plan and work schedule to see how much time you have available each week to spend with friends and family and you will also need to factor in some time for yourself to relax and catch up on sleep.
The family
Many students who have a family often feel guilty that they can’t spend enough time with them but remember that you are studying for their benefit as well as yours. Talk it through with them and explain that it’s only for a short time.
Get support
However, if you feel that you are really struggling or are feeling really guilty about not spending enough time with your family, talk to someone in your University Student Services department such as a counsellor, careers adviser, or money and welfare officer. It is their job to help and support you while you are at university, so use the service as much as you like. They may be able to provide you with financial advice and help with sources of funding that are available,disability and health support including relaxation techniques to reduce stress, advice on careers and jobs and sometimes childcare support. They are also ‘good listeners’ and sometimes it’s just nice to talk to someone and get things off your chest. Talking things through often makes things clearer for you and helps you to decide if you need to make any changes.
Build a support Network
Building a support network can be harder for student parents because of the demands on your time however, many universities have a society for student parents and it can be a great way to meet other parents and share childcare during lectures and exams. If your university or college doesn’t have a group then you might like to start one.
Friends
Make sure that you are able to spend some time each week with your friends, even if this is just catching them for a quick coffee or a beer once or twice per week. However, make sure that you associate yourself with positive, supportive people that will help you remain upbeat and optimistic.
Take care of yourself
The challenges and change in your life when you go to university can take its toll on your health, with depression being one of the most common issues for which university counsellors are consulted by students. Make sure that you take time out from work and study to relax a little, eat regular meals, a balanced diet, and get enough sleep.
If you haven’t got time to get involved with clubs and societies, then at least try to go for a swim once or twice a week or maybe you could jog for 30 mins each morning or try yoga or meditation – anything which will help you unwind and de-stress.
Be realistic about what you can do and don’t promise something you can’t deliver, and learn to say ‘no’ to your boss if he/she wants you to do more hours then you are comfortable with.
Don’t spend too much time on social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter as they are big time eaters and if you get behind with your study you will feel more stressed, especially when life throws even more demands on your time your way. Try to limit the time spent on these sites to no more than 30 minutes per day and switch off your phone when you’re studying or relaxing.
Try to find a healthy balance between study and rest. Too much study (or continuous periods of study) are known to be counterproductive and might affect your health, well being, and your effectiveness as a student. Find opportunities to have a break (such as nipping down to the kitchen to make a cuppa, doing some stretching exercises), this will make you feel more refreshed, and lead to improved levels of energy and concentration.
If you stick to your study plan and have been realistic about how much time you have available for part time work you should have a few hours per week to spend on social/family and therefore should be on the way to achieving a satisfactory work-life balance. Good luck!
If you’re a student, or are just about to start university and would like to share your time management techniques and ideas with others please leave a comment below.
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