The responsibilities that students have often take up a majority of their time. Between the hours spent in classes and doing coursework, you don’t have much time to rest, let alone pursue your interests.
As dutiful students, you often think this is the price you pay for your degree. But this mindset can lead to burnout. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to maintain a work-life balance as a student.
Understand the Importance of Work-Life Balance
As we’ve said, many students believe being a “good” student means denying their right to rest. While you have to make sacrifices to achieve your goals, there’s a difference between working diligently and not meeting your basic needs.
Pushing yourself like this can negatively affect your mental health, leading to chronic stress and depression. It can also impact your physical health, triggering insomnia and a weakened immune system. Any health trouble is the last thing you need as a student.
Organize and Prioritize
Learning to maintain a work-life balance as a student starts with creating healthy boundaries with their school work. The easiest way to do this is to stay organized. A few ways to do this include:
- Buy a planner or calendar and pencil in your responsibilities
- Write down deadlines
- Create bullet-point lists for what you need to do for different classes
- Break down more extensive assignments into smaller ones
- Develop a system for keeping paperwork organized
When you can clearly see the tasks you need to do, you can prioritize them based on importance. You can do the most important things first, then give yourself time to rest afterward.
Recognize Your Body's Needs
College students are notorious for pushing their bodies to the limit to pursue higher education. But taking the time to step away from school work to take care of your body is crucial if you want to have the energy to complete your studies. Here are a few essential health tips to keep in mind:
- Be sure to get enough sleep
- Drink enough water
- Avoid skipping meals
- Allow for a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
- Take time to get active, whether participating in a sport, working out, or going for a walk
Taking care of your needs includes doing things you enjoy. Your hobbies may not feel “essential” when stacked up against the weight of your degree, but doing something you love helps promote good mental health and stave off stress.
Create Space For Rest
When it comes to school work, you should create a workspace at your desk to get things done and clear out time in your schedule to work. To maintain a work-life balance, you need to treat rest the same way at times.
Find physical places to rest. Make your dorm a soothing oasis, or if you’re in a house or apartment, design a wellness room. Then, create pockets of time in your week for rest. Your studies are necessary, but your health is more important.
Meet the Author: Kayla
