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How to Maintain Your Study-Life Balance During Exam Season?

Your Study Life Balance During Exam Season

With exams around the corner, many students struggle to manage their routines. You must meet your friends, attend that close relative’s wedding, and take some time off for your well-being.

While managing all this, some students work part-time jobs to meet ends. For them, maintaining a work-study-life balance becomes even more difficult. 

So, instead of juggling various responsibilities at once, you need to have a proper plan for managing your time. Read on as we share some useful tips with you!

Study-Life Balance — Definition

Everyone seems to be so obsessed with the phrase “study-life balance” on the internet. But what does it mean?

Study-life balance means being able to manage your academic tasks while focusing on your career effectively, and also having time to go for a walk. 

Let’s not pretend that it is an ideal world. You can never do 10 things at once with the same enthusiasm and hard work, but you can get there with practice.

Signs of an Unbalanced Study-Life Dynamic

An unbalanced study-life dynamic will lead to major physical and mental health issues. As we know, there is nothing more important to life than your health. An unhealthy balance between work and personal life means you constantly neglect yourself. If this continues for a longer period, you will be badly affected. 

According to a recent study, people who work more than 55 hours a week are more likely to develop stroke, anxiety, and depression. Longer neglect periods also lead to insomnia, ultimately deteriorating your physical health. 

Study-life balance affects all areas of your life. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will not be able to focus in school and perform well in your exams. 

Some major signs of having a disruptive study-life balance mean:

  • You are frustrated all the time, and your personal and professional relationships suffer.
  • You will be burnt out because you can’t stop thinking about studies/work even after spending a fair amount of time on it.
  • You are constantly in a bad mood. You feel body pain and aches and probably have zero energy.
  • You can not focus properly in class and might not understand what the teacher is trying to say.
  • You are getting bad grades even after staying up all night studying.
  • No matter what you’re doing, you think you should do something else. This constant cycle leads to an existential crisis.
  • You struggle to take time for yourself, even when sick because you feel guilty about choosing for yourself. 
  • When you finally get free time, you don’t know what to do.

What Causes This Imbalance?

University and research are more than full-time jobs. Even younger school kids need proper time to play and have hobbies. With tests, assignments, projects, and unlimited deadlines, keeping up with things can be difficult. But those truly interested in what they are doing get ahead of most of us.

A disrupted study-life balance can be caused due to multiple reasons. There are certain barriers that prevent you from having a proper routine, and some of them are described below:

You are a Perfectionist

It is completely okay to accept failure sometimes and let it go. Alternatively, you can complete a task with minimal drama, but if you're prone to chronic perfectionism, you will likely jump around from one task to another until you're completely happy. So, learn to be okay with making mistakes; not everything will be perfect. Take things slowly, gradually it will 

Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is a real issue that might keep you from focusing on your health. If you have been micro-managing yourself then you might be doing something wrong. You need to reconsider your priorities if you think taking time off will set you back.

Reframe your thinking by studying your best and working hard, and once you’re done, call it. There is no point in torturing yourself to pass an exam. Getting average grades is okay; what’s not okay is not even trying for it.

Not Planning Your Schedule

Sometimes, not giving everything enough consideration might lead to a work-life balance that is not ideal. Pulling an all-nighter is to be expected when you only find out about your examinations two days before they are due. To keep from burning yourself out when due dates loom, it's important to learn to plan.

Disorganized Study Space

Honestly, not everything is your fault. But you need to organize your study space. A disorganized space will lead to a lack of motivation and burden. You will waste a lot of time thinking about organizing things, but you won't have time to do those things.

Relevant Read: How Can You Learn Without Forgetting? Tips From an Educationist

Here Are Some Side-Effects

Having an unbalanced schedule will have some negative effects. 

  • exhaustion
  • anxiety
  • sickness in holidays
  • absence from work
  • loss of voice
  • panic attacks
  • no time to exercise
  • lack of sleep
  • short-tempered
  • loss of confidence
  • poor quality of life
  • poor relationships
  • poor social life
  • detachment from others
  • lack of time with friends
  • inability to feel empathy

Importance of Having a Balanced Life

Many people believe that being constantly productive is the key to success or that working long hours equates to higher output. However, this mindset often leads to burnout and diminished productivity rather than success.

No Mental Tiredness: Students can avoid exhaustion and burnout by keeping a healthy balance between their studies and personal lives. An excessive amount of time spent absorbed in books or glued to computers can cause mental tiredness, which lowers the standard of their education and compromises their general health. However, skipping classes in favor of extracurricular activities might lead to difficulties in the classroom and higher stress levels.

Personal Development: A balanced approach to student life also encourages overall development. In addition to offering much-needed respites from classroom responsibilities, extracurricular activities, hobbies, and social engagements, it promotes personal growth, interpersonal skills, and a sense of social belonging. These events give students life lessons, enhancing their general sense of fulfillment and contentment.

Management Skills: Maintaining a healthy balance between work and life also helps you develop time management and prioritization skills, which are very beneficial in your future and during your time as a student. Students who learn how to manage their time well will be more efficient, organized, and able to handle both academic and personal challenges. Time management skills include learning how to balance studying, attending classes, engaging in extracurricular activities, and attending to personal needs.

Tips to Improve Study-Life Balance During Exams

1. Sleep should be your priority.

It should go without saying that getting enough sleep is necessary for productivity. Your mind can take in new information more quickly, you can think more clearly and can concentrate on your work for a longer period after getting enough rest. 

Although it's tempting to stay up late studying before a test, getting no sleep will prevent you from functioning at your best. While studying is important, your physical and emotional well-being should come first. Give yourself a restful night's sleep, healthy meals, and some downtime following extended study sessions.

2. Work when you’re at your productivity peak.

Some people are night owls, and some are early birds. This means that you do not need to copy anyone and their working style in order to succeed. Do what works best for you.

Night owls are more productive in the late afternoon and evening, and they are at their best at night. They tend to study properly when everyone is asleep. On the contrary, early birds are more productive after sunrise and during morning hours. 

If you are a night owl, save tedious tasks for the night and do easier tasks in the morning. The same goes for those who study in the morning. Work on difficult tasks when your productivity is at its peak.

More Information: Which is The Best Time to Study? Pros and Cons of Day & Night Studying

3. Reward yourself and take breaks.

It takes a lot of effort to study. You have a lot of learning, a ton of writing, facts and figures to memorize, time to put your newfound knowledge into practice, and possibly an internship. 

Regardless of how much you like your subjects, you still need time to reflect on other things. Try to find a hobby, no matter how challenging the coursework is at school. While some students enjoy playing musical instruments, others are more interested in athletics. Perhaps you should learn how to paint or join a chess group. 

Apart from a hobby, you can actually give yourself tiny rewards. For example, set a goal that you will do three topics today and then watch your favorite show. It is an important way to unwind and eventually will maximize your work time.

In a nutshell, complete all required homework and work towards a passionate hobby and refreshing habits. 

4. Learn to say NO.

One thing that comes with managing various tasks at hand is learning how to say “No”. When you are taking your time to study, turn off your phone. Some of your friends will ask for meetups and waste your time talking about irrelevant things. Say no to unnecessary events or meetup plans, and turn your phone off if you want quality time with your studies. 

5. Be realistic; you can’t follow your schedule.

If you constantly spend a lot of time studying, then you probably are doing enough. When pulling an all-nighter, you will likely be tired the next morning to gear up for another task. 

Constant work will lead you to burnout. So, you need to be realistic about your deadlines and schedules. If you have worked more than enough for three days straight, you must rest on the 4th day. Don’t expect yourself to be energetic enough to go on for the whole week like this. 

Learn More: How To Get An A In Math? Top Tips & Tricks!

How Can MTS Help You?

If you’re having trouble maintaining a study-life balance because of a tough subject, MTS is your go-to learning agency. Hire a professional tutor who will resolve your issues by providing organized study sessions.

Book a free trial lesson, and get going!

Key Takeaways

  • Study-life balance is about effectively managing academic tasks, career goals, and personal well-being.
  • Watch out for frustration, burnout, mood swings, lack of focus, and declining grades.
  • Perfectionism, fear of failure, lack of planning, and disorganized study spaces can disrupt your balance.
  • Productivity isn't solely about constant work; maintaining balance prevents burnout, enhances overall development, and fosters time management skills.
  • Prioritize sleep for improved productivity and well-being while working during peak productivity hours.
  • Reward yourself and take regular breaks to unwind.
  • Learn to say no to unnecessary distractions, be realistic about your capabilities, and avoid overworking to prevent burnout.

Wrap Up!

Maintaining a healthy study-life balance around the stressful period of exams is very important. It is essential not only for your academic success but also for your overall well-being. 

We have provided practical tips and a detailed guide to help you analyze your lifestyle. By recognizing the signs of imbalance, understanding its causes, and implementing effective strategies, you can easily navigate the challenging period of exams.

Have a proper night’s sleep, and gear up for your exams!

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With over 3 years of experience in teaching, Chloe is very deeply connected with the topics that talk about the educational and general aspects of a student's life. Her writing has been very helpful for students to gain a better understanding of their academics and personal well-being. I’m also open to any suggestions that you might have! Please reach out to me at chloedaniel402 [at] gmail.com