The balance of Work and Study: What It’s Really Like

Working and studying has taught me many things about time management. Both are crucial and yet no one teaches you how to balance both at the same time. Below is my experience as well as my top tips for staying on top of both.

While at university I have done many odd jobs:

• Worked on my start-up business Funky Gut (kimchi)
• Worked for a call centre at the university
• Worked in hospitality in a hotel
• Worked at the university open days

There are definitely perks:

• Money in your pocket - Having a job while studying means I get to do the things I enjoy: going to the gym, playing in the uni teams & dance show, nights out with the girls, as well as planning holidays with my friends.
• Experience - We all know the job market is tough so having a broad range of skills and experience in different roles prepares us for the next job.
• Mastering time management - University teaches you this regardless as you will always have many assignments on at the same time. Having a job or two will force you to prioritise your tasks. I recommend looking at the time management square, also known as the Eisenhower Matrix, to see how you can split your tasks in order of priorities.
• I have found that no week is ever the same at university, so having a set structure where possible can help you to organise your time efficiently.

My Top Tips

Here’s what’s helped me:

1. Know how you work - Be honest with yourself and enhance how you work. Use the pretty planner to write your to-do lists and start that calendar! I find that using an online calendar is useful to quickly add things in when I’m out.
2. Prioritise - Not everything is urgent. Use the Eisenhower Matrix and see what actually needs to get done.
3. Plan the night before - Write your to-do list for the next day the evening before. This will help you to not worry while trying to sleep as you have already taken the first step to get things done.
4. Set boundaries – Don’t be afraid to say no. Having “me-time” and rest matters - burnout won’t help anyone.
5. Take care of yourself – Eat healthy, quality sleep and exercise. We have heard it many times but it does actually help! You’ll get through assignments and shifts so much better if your energy is up!

Juggling work and study isn’t easy - but it teaches you resilience, focus, and patience. You learn how to push through tough days and genuinely appreciate your experiences. Remember there are always people who can support you.

Your time at uni will fly by so enjoy and make the most of it!