A major issue for most students now is combining coursework with active leisure activities. If you can find the right balance, you can boost your academic performance, relax and do other things that will enhance and develop you as an individual. Here are five key strategies to help you manage.
Prioritise and plan
Learning to manage your time wisely is an important skill that helps your keep academic commitments and leisure interests in balance. In order to do this effectively, you must first identify the tasks that require attention and then separate those tasks based on when they are due and how important they are.
Using a planner, or some sort of digital calendar, you can create a general time frame for studying and then a separate one for leisure pursuits. If this is done properly, you can be sure that all academic commitments are met but also that there is time set aside for rest and fun.
By planning ahead like this, it lessens the likelihood that leisure time will infringe on our time for studying. One thing that can help you balance your schedule is a writing aid. Students often contact StateOfWriting or other UK writing services with a request, “Can you do my coursework for me?” in order to have more time for their other commitments. This can definitely help keep your academic performance high, but also find enough time to unwind and practice your hobbies.
Set specific goals
Be clear about what you need to accomplish, both in how you spend your leisure time and in your course-related study sessions. By setting specific and measurable goals for study sessions – for example, completing a chapter or understanding a concept – you can make the most of the time spent studying. You can make that time more effective and productive.
Similarly, goals for your leisure time can also make those endeavours more meaningful and purposeful, all the while helping you with time management. Whether you want to enhance your abilities in a sport or complete a creative project, having and working towards those goals can help you determine how you want to spend your non-study time.
Use active leisure as a reward
Frame leisure activities as a reward for completing study goals. You can use this strategy to increase your productivity and motivation. Reward yourself with a brief leisure activity (e.g. a game of basketball, a swim or a bike ride) after a productive study session or after completing an important piece of coursework. This not only helps you get through your coursework but also integrates your leisure activities with feelings of accomplishment.
Combine activities where possible
Maximise your productivity by combining study and active leisure with these strategies:
- Audio Learning: Listen to lecture recordings or educational podcasts while jogging or working out to enhance learning.
- Active TV Time: Engage in other activities like cooking, cleaning, or knitting while watching TV instead of just lounging passively.
- Workstation Exercises: Incorporate small exercises like stretching or stationary biking while working at your computer.
- Dual-Task Leisure: Utilize leisure time effectively by combining it with less demanding study tasks, ensuring you stay active even during busy periods.
These tips help blend study with physical activity, making both more enjoyable and efficient, especially during times of high workload.
Reflect and adjust
Take some time periodically to think about how the strategy is going, and make changes as needed. If it turns out that you’re routinely missing either your study or leisure goals, you might need to update your schedule and reevaluate priorities. You might, for example, be underestimating how much time you need to study for your courses or overcommitting to leisure activities.
Additionally, if writing a dissertation introduction is consuming more time than anticipated, it might be necessary to adjust your approach to this task. When you update your plans, you set yourself up to be as productive and happy as possible.
Embracing a balanced student life
Finding the right balance between coursework and leisure is not about giving up one to have the other. It’s about improving both so that you gain a healthier balance that will ensure your well-being and academic success. By setting yourself up to plan and prioritise, choosing goals you can achieve, using leisure as a reward, finding creative ways of combining both, and checking in with yourself on a regular basis about your plans and priorities, you will get the most out of your college years.
