It is challenging to juggle work and study at the same time, so we asked our friends from the CSUSocial page to help. Here are their practical tips to better balance your uni life…
1. Plan Plan Plan!!!
The most crucial tip to help you stay on top of everything is to plan out a schedule to incorporate your work, uni and social life. You can do this by making a schedule/timetable up with your uni classes, lectures and assessments, and adding your work schedule to make sure you can stay on top of things as best you can.
“Mapping out a session plan (assessments etc) and then a weekly plan is essential to make sure you’re covering what you need to from week to week.” – Anita Nemarich
“Doing up a REALISTIC plan that includes work, time for the work commute, exercise, socialising, study and whatever else you do. Include time for regular breaks. Don’t rush through subjects just to get a piece of paper, enjoy the learning process and allow your brain to absorb what you’re learning. Nobody cares whether you complete your degree in 3 or 5 years.” – Wendy N-en
2. Get into a routine:
Once you have made a plan, it helps to get into a routine. Although you may not always have the same work roster every week, having a routine helps you remember when you can study and when you have to work. Getting into an effective study routine is especially important when you have upcoming exams.
“Prepare prepare prepare. Plan your assignments personal commitments and use all the spare time you can. Coffee breaks lunch breaks etc. I keep everything in one note and have it open and have a quick squiz between work tasks” – Paul Walters
“PLAN, PLAN, PLAN and then stick to the plan as much as possible. Accept that life always gets in the way of the perfect plan (ancient military maxim — no battle plan survives contact with the enemy) and don’t stress about it, just adapt. For big assignments, aim to have your final draft done a week before the deadline to give yourself time to review it calmly before submitting it (and remember that EASTS does allow you to submit multiple versions before the deadline).” – Geoffrey Hugh Miller
3. Remember to take some ‘me time’:
It is important to schedule in some time to relax and do the things that you want to do. Having some ‘me time’ allows you to get a proper break from your busy schedule. This can include talking a walk, going to the gym, watching Netflix or hanging out with friends.
“Always remember ‘me time’. I tend to walk and listen to lectures and find the exercise makes the mind clear and sleep better. Make sure you take care of yourself and be as organised as possible. Try to limit study to 1 hour blocks and just take 5 mins away from computer / books to think about what you have learnt.” – Ian Graham
4. Get enough sleep:
As work and study can be quite exhausting it is crucial to make sure you get enough sleep each night to make sure you can properly function the following day. Good quality sleep allows you to concentrate and complete tasks better. The last thing that you want is to burn out because of a lack of a good night’s sleep.
“I work part time (20-30 hour weeks), just sleep when you need to, don’t exhaust yourself or you’ll burn out.” – Kaitlin Jeffries
