Knuckling down to study can be especially challenging in the warmer months, making a balanced approach to work, rest and play even more crucial, writes Becky Maye
Studying during the summer is never easy. Trying to maintain work, study and enjoying some summer fun is a balancing act and one that can be challenging for many students to maintain as exams approach.
There is an art to making sure that, when you’re being pulled in so many directions, you can still prioritise what is most important in the moment. Sometimes, trying to strike a balance between work, study and fun can feel overwhelming. Taking a step back and looking at how we approach work-life balance as students can help us to excel while also taking good care of ourselves.
Taking control of your time
We may need to be ruthless with our schedules and how we choose what to make time for. This can be difficult. My advice is to plan out your weekly schedules in advanced – a huge help!
Taking a few minutes to plan your week in detail can allow for so much more time to be saved during the week.
This time can then be used to do what matters most, be it study, work, time with family and friends or socialising and engaging with extracurricular activities.
It is so important to maintain some level of engagement with activities outside study and work, so that you can avoid becoming too overwhelmed or burnt out during the chaos of exam preparation.
Any study leave you can use in the lead-up to exams can also help lessen the burden – but it’s important to still prioritise how you schedule your time. It’s so easy to cancel plans or feel guilty whenever you do things for yourself outside study. We have all fallen into this trap and experienced the dilemma.
Switching off
While it may be necessary to take a step back from socialising, taking some time away from studying also must be a priority for students.
Everyone needs time to switch off and recharge. You are entitled to have some fun and take a breather from the relentless study routine.
During the summer, the days are longer and brighter and (sometimes!) the weather is a lot nicer. This means there are many more options for taking a break from study to have some fun.
Don’t neglect getting in touch with your friends and making the most of the extra opportunities for getting outside and socialising the summer can bring. And it’s also important to remember that what’s “fun” for one person might not be viewed in the same way by another.
Check in with your peers and make sure that when you are all taking time away from study together, it’s fun for everyone!
Your support network
Your support network will play a big part in helping you to maintain a healthy balance in the run-up to summer exams. Lean on your family and friends and let them help you, be it in the form of pushing you to study or pulling you away from study when a break is needed and deserved.
It’s important to note that all this advice might not be easy to implement, so start small and focus on the little things you can change to help achieve a healthy balance between study, work and rest and relaxation.
These small changes add up over time and can have a very positive impact as they become part of your routine. No one can change overnight. By building your way up and introducing good habits slowly, you will be well-placed to figure out what works best for you.
There is also support available to you to help in doing this, some of which you may not know exists!
For example, through the Education department or the Thrive Wellbeing Hub there are a multitude of student supports available.
The CASSI committee members are also always on hand to help in any way possible if you would rather reach out to a fellow student first.
Taking care of yourself and finding your balance between work, study and fun is so important and shouldn’t be neglected through the summer run-up to exams.
Becky Maye is a Tax Associate with PwC and Public Relations Officer with the Chartered Accountants Student Society of Ireland.
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