Wednesday 05-09-2018 - 15:09

Time enjoyed wasting is not wasted time. Balancing a social life with study can be difficult; you need to figure out how to manage the stresses of studying, whilst maintaining a newly acquired social life (and on top of that make some time for relaxation, so that you don’t go too crazy).

Whilst I was studying for my degree, being a member of a society and a club was important to me - It was a great opportunity to expand my friendship group, as well as providing an outlet throughout the academic year. However, with so much going on, it’s important not to let things get too on top of you trying to fit everything in.

Time management – it’s a gruelling phrase, even when typing it out, yet it is a necessary skill all of us must grasp at some stage in our lives. As someone who’s been there trying to juggle everything at once, here’s some of my tips for making the most of everything:

 

 -  Keep a planner or diary! I know this sounds like a very simple tip, but it will become a lifesaver later on when your week becomes filled with hand-ins, night outs or events. I recommend using Google Calendar, as you will have a diary you can always access through your phone rather than a planner that you will inevitably forget at some point.

 -  Find a job that is flexible. The university and The Union offer employment that is flexible around your study schedule whether it be Student Ambassadors or Hospitality. Alternatively, there are plenty of other part time employment opportunities in Manchester, but make sure that they work around you and your studies.

-  Learn to say no! Don’t go overboard. It is tempting to go above and beyond, and participate in everything while at university, but that is a sure fire way of burning out rather than destressing, and you’ll become vastly more stressed out.

 -  Carve out some ‘me’ time in your busy schedule. It doesn’t have to be an entire day, it could only be a few hours, or even ten minutes, but make sure you leave standalone time for yourself. It could be meditation, browsing YouTube, or just relaxing in front of a TV with a takeaway. It’s so important to take some time to rest and refresh so you don’t get burnt out. Make sure it happens by actually putting ‘me’ time it in your schedule.