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We all know how busy life can be. From being a full-time student to working part-time jobs, everyone seems to struggle to find the balance between their study, work, and personal life. School-life balance can significantly impact on both your academic performance and personal life. We students often prioritize academics over personal factors, such as health and relationships. This can lead to a decline in academic performance since your health and wellbeing are declining.
As a student, managing your studies and personal life at the same time might seem impossible. However, some simple ways and methods that can help you better manage your school life and personal life. So, here are 7 tips for students to achieve school-life balance.
Manage your time
Time management is always a key factor in academic and professional success. It’s an essential skill that we’ve all heard of and can help you concentrate your efforts on what’s most important. While it may sound cliché, managing your time is actually much simpler than what you’re thinking.
Start by creating a daily schedule, and most importantly, stick to it! Having a certain routine for your daily tasks can help you discipline yourself better while getting through those tasks faster. For instance, list out the tasks that you do every day, then put each of them in a time frame and force yourself to strictly follow that schedule.
You can either save your daily schedule on a piece of paper or if you’re a tech-lover use the calendar on your laptop to keep track of everything. Plus, when using a digital calendar, you can easily edit your schedule, and set reminders for important events. So, take the time to set up your schedule and calendar to help you become more efficient in managing your time.
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Maintain a healthy lifestyle
As students, we tend to be more willing to sacrifice our personal time to do other things. Gradually, people start to ignore the importance of having a break and forget that if we’re not physically and mentally healthy, we can’t get the work done. That said, despite how busy you are, try your best to spend time taking care of yourself. Spend time and effort to establish a wellness plan, and make sure to stick to it.
To improve your physical health, make sure you exercise regularly and eat responsibly. There is no need to walk to a gym for an intensive workout; a few simple stretches at home can keep your body active and help relax your mind. Just search for simple workouts at home, put on your favorite gym clothes, and you’re ready to go. As for your diet, remember to eat healthy meals with various nutrients that are beneficial to the body.
Learn to prioritize
Being able to prioritize is a valuable skill for everyone, whether you’re a student or a teacher. When you feel like everything is important, prioritization helps to calm yourself down and allows you to focus on tasks that are most urgent and important. List out the tasks on your tablet, then determine which ones you are going to finish first. By prioritizing tasks effectively, you can change the arc of your day and make the most of your time studying.
Assign time limits to your tasks
Instead of just working until the tasks are done, it’s better to set time limits for the tasks when creating your study schedule. This helps you be more focused, which can help you study more efficiently. If you want to set a steady pace for your workflow, you can try out the Pomodoro Technique.
This technique helps to divide your task into 25-minute chunks, taking short breaks between each chunk, and a longer break after you’ve completed four chunks. This technique is said to be effective by many people because it balances a narrow focus with frequent breaks, helping to maintain motivation and reduce mental strain.
Establish boundaries
Students need to establish boundaries by learning how to say no. If you’re overwhelmed with assignments and someone asks you to do an extra task, what will happen if you say yes? The amount of work you have to do increases, you’re more likely to be burnt out, and the performance of your work might not be as good as you want it to be. Remember that it’s okay for you to say no and clearly communicate your thoughts and feelings to others.
This allows you and other people to have clear expectations of what you can and can’t do at different times. Another cool tip to help you set personal boundaries is to develop a mental switch between your work time and personal time. Stick to the time you set out for personal enjoyment and make the most of the time that you set aside for productive working/studying.
Take breaks and spend time for yourself
Studying non-stop for hours and hours can lead to extreme stress, resulting in burnout. Don’t think that studying for 24 hours a day will help improve your academic performance because it doesn’t work that way. Taking breaks is essential to achieving success, that’s why you need to make sure to give your body and mind a rest and improve your mood.
When planning your schedule, remember to include short breaks. Spend that time playing with your dogs, reading a few pages of your favorite book, or finishing a gaming session. Also, make sure to spend time reconnecting with your loved ones because talking to them can help relieve that stress in your mind, making you feel more motivated than ever. If possible, you can also schedule a substantial break, such as a long weekend away from home, to recharge and reflect on yourself.
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Ask for help and advice
If none of the tips mentioned can help you manage your study and personal life better, it’s best to find help from the people you trust. For example, you can ask for help and advice from your parents, siblings, instructors, teachers, or even your classmates on how they’re dealing with their busy life. They might give you useful tips and tricks that are better suited to your situation.
More importantly, if you feel overwhelmed or unable to deal with things in your life, seek guidance from mental health professionals to find the most accurate solution. Remember that you don’t have to try to do everything on your own, and you’re allowed to receive help from others.
Conclusion
There you have it! These 6 tips can definitely help you better manage your time, as well as balance your school life and personal life. Do you have any other school-life balance tips for students? If yes, don’t forget to share them in the comments below!