HEALTH: The Importance of a Study/Life Balance
Oonagh Grant
Pulling an all-nighter a few hours before the deadline you thought would never actually arrive has happened to most of us. Or maybe you’re the type of person who sees too much of the library and not enough of the inside of a bar? Perhaps you just don’t know how to become productive? No matter the problem, here's some advice on how to maintain a healthy study-life balance, without missing out on the things you love to do.
Productivity and time management are two key skills to be learned at university, but it’s hard to get into the habit of making the most out of the time you have. The amount of independent learning you’ll end up doing every week depends on your course and workload, but according to this article, the general consensus is that for every hour spent at university, students should spend two-three hours studying. However, productivity isn’t necessarily only about working all the time. Both mental and physical health needs to strike a balance between the two.
A good night’s sleep
The first absolute must-have to any work-life balance is a proper sleep schedule. A good night’s sleep works wonders for the body. It's recommended that you go to sleep at relatively the same time every night to get your body into a good rhythm. The amount you need to sleep can vary from person to person, but the average adult needs seven to nine hours of quality sleep a night to be on top form. My tried-and-tested personal recommendations for getting a better night’s sleep include meditation, not eating or drinking immediately before sleeping, and swapping out lying in bed scrolling on TikTok for reading a book for 20 minutes.
“Let me check my diary…”
Another issue many students face is scheduling. How, when, and where to study are key problems. My main solution to this is to buy a planner and schedule everything. Try your hardest to stick to the plan you make for yourself – everyone has different times of the day when they feel the most productive, and you don’t need to make yourself work a nine-five in the library every day to get your work done. Make a study schedule that you know works for you, filling in times to allow yourself breaks. If it’s possible, try to separate your working space from your living space. If this means going to the library, to a café, to a park… do it! Finding a place and time where you feel comfortable to study will help you to get your work done quicker and better, which means more time for some well-needed relaxation.
Relax
A key element of the study-life balance is the “life” aspect. Studying is, of course, essential to university life, but looking after your health will enable you to work smarter, harder, and better. When you finish all your work, give yourself time to relax. You don’t necessarily need to do all your work in the morning to have the whole evening off, but no matter when you study, try to take an hour or two in the day for yourself. Do something you enjoy, whether that’s sport, reading, going out, watching Netflix, whatever. Make time for yourself and don’t be stingy with it. After all the hard work you’ve done, you deserve it.
Don’t be hard on yourself if you have an off day or if you skipped a day in the library to rewatch Friends for the tenth time. You can always get back on it the next day.
Most importantly, make sure you’re eating enough (especially your 5-a day!) and drinking enough water. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself, especially as we approach the end of the semester and have deadlines looming.
Oonagh Grant is a Scoop Health and Lifestyle reporter and an undergraduate student in History at Queen’s University Belfast