Balancing your time at university: Top tips for student life

Hey, I’m Nabil, a third-year Chemical Engineering student. It’ll be described by many as an intensive course with a lot of contact hours. Balancing university and your personal life and hobbies is something a lot of people struggle with, especially when you are on a more difficult course. with many people often prioritising university over fun and vice versa. A lot of people struggle with time management and managing extracurricular commitments - this may result in negative consequences such as burnout, reduction in morale and these often influence students' performance especially during busy academic periods.

One of the biggest challenges students face during exam season and coursework deadlines is managing time effectively. It’s important to recognise when productivity starts to drop. Pushing through exhaustion often feels necessary, but it can be counterproductive. It’s easy to feel like every waking hour should be spent studying. However, this often leads to diminishing returns, where productivity decreases despite longer hours. Taking intentional breaks, getting enough sleep, and maintaining basic routines like eating properly and going to the gym (if you do) can significantly improve concentration and performance. Burnout doesn’t usually happen overnight; it slowly builds up when rest is deprioritised.

It’s important to challenge the idea that being constantly busy equates to being productive. Productivity looks different for everyone, and it’s important to understand your styles of working and what productivity looks like for you. Resting and allowing yourself time to recharge whether through hobbies, sports, socialising, or simply lounging could improve your focus, creativity, and resilience, especially in intensive courses where the pressure to perform is high.

I personally set aside time every week to do something fun, even if it’s just a little thing. This could be watching a nice movie, going out with my friends, or buying myself a little present or treat. I do this to boost my morale, and it allows me to continuously push and work hard for the rest of the week. I usually do this on a Wednesday or Thursday as it’s right in the middle of the week, just for that little boost.

One strategy that has really helped me manage my time is planning my week realistically. It’s easy to overestimate how much work you can get done in a day, especially on a course with heavy contact hours like Chemical Engineering. I block out time for lectures, and independent study, but I also schedule rest, gym sessions, and social time. Treating these as non-negotiable commitments has made a huge difference to my consistency and overall wellbeing.

Extracurricular activities can also play a big role in maintaining balance at university. Whether it’s joining a society, playing sport, volunteering, or taking on a part-time role, these activities provide structure outside academics and give you something to look forward to. They act as a mental reset, helping you step away from university and explore different interests and passions and return with better focus. Importantly, they also allow you to meet people outside your course, which can be refreshing when you spend most of your week with the same people.

If you ever feel burnout or anxious, reaching out to your friends and family and taking a break often helps. The university wellbeing team is also available with support being provided to students in different manners, such as UB Heard which is a confidential 24/7 mental health support line for students at the university.

University is a marathon, not a sprint. Academic success is important, but so is your health, happiness, and personal growth. By finding a balance that works for you that includes rest, enjoyment, and community, you put yourself in the best position not just to succeed academically, but to enjoy your degree experience. This is why conversations around wellbeing and self-care are so important.