Finding a solid balance between study and life is super important. If you’re at school, TAFE or university, chances are you’ll have assignments to complete and study to get on top of. Sometimes, this can make it harder to manage other important responsibilities you may have, like a job, extracurriculars, or hobbies.
If you’re finding it difficult to strike that balance between your studies and everyday life, you might end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed for long periods. And over time, these feelings can cause burnout and begin to impact your daily life, so it’s important to find a balance that works for you.
What is burnout?
Burnout can be described as a state of complete mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. A few symptoms of burnout can include:
- lack of motivation, drive and/or passion for things you usually enjoy
- easily irritated
- unable to focus or concentrate
- emotionally withdrawn
- unable to perform basic tasks.
You can learn more about burnout by checking out this article on what is burnout, or taking this quick quiz.
What does a good study-life balance look like?
Building a good study-life balance will look different for everyone and can help you stay on top of burnout before it happens. You could look at it like a pie chart, where in a day or within your week you’ve got time for yourself and your responsibilities. Take a look at this example from the BBC:
This pie chart shows you just how many areas form a part of your overall well being. Notice how it includes finding some time to study but also making sure you have time to chill. For example, you might spend two hours studying in the evening, and then the rest of the night you might watch a movie and relax.
It’s important to find a balance that works for you, as this can help you to maintain perspective, recharge your batteries and improve your overall health and wellbeing – all of which can help to reduce the chances of burnout.
Do you have a study-life balance? If so, what helps you prevent burnout? If not, what will you do to create a study-life balance?
