Tip of the Iceberg: Finding Work-Life Balance

As a college student, there are so many things to juggle that this can start to feel like a common dilemma:

I say if you’re forced to choose only two, then sorry– you’re doing it wrong.

Follow these 5 tips to improve your work-life balance:

1. Make sure your ‘anchors’ are in place.

What are anchors, you ask? Basically sleep, meals, and other healthy habits like exercise. It sounds basic, but these things underpin your quality of life, not to mention your productivity. If you’re lacking in these areas you’ll start to become overwhelmed, and college becomes a treadmill set to max. So have a consistent sleep schedule, Google easy/cheap/healthy recipes, and if you don’t have much time to work out, at least get out for a walk once in a while.

2. Make a weekly schedule.

First, click here for a schedule template.

Next, fill in your schedule in the following order:

• Fixed commitments (such as classes, work, and commuting)
• Healthy habits (sleep!)
• Homework time
• Everything else (like errands, seeing friends, etc.)

When in doubt about how many hours you need, overestimate. Be specific: assign each block of time to a class. Most students who do this find it’s a bit like a puzzle, but after a few tries, they can make everything fit. If you find that you don’t have enough hours in the week, you may have to make some lifestyle changes.

3. Use a To-do list.

Write a list of everything you have to do, not just school stuff. If your list is so long that just looking at it gives you anxiety, break it down into four sections according to this chart so that you can tell at a glance which items are priorities. Try the app Evernote for added practicality.

4. De-Stress.

It’s normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed when you’re spread too thin. Nip it in the bud before your stress gets out of hand– check out this stress management guide. Remember, figuring out how to have work-life balance that works for you is always a work in progress, so don’t get too discouraged.

5. Ask for help.

There’s a lot of Algonquin staff you can meet with to help you cultivate better work-life balance or improve your routine. For example, Student Success Specialists or Counsellors can be a great starting point.

Good luck!

By Eliza Brown, Counsellor for Counselling Services at Algonquin College.