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5 tips to balance study, work and life


It feels like you’re juggling a thousand things and you jump from one priority to the other. I do it all the time. It’s a constant dance of dealing with deadlines and responsibilities that can leave you feeling exhausted. Whilst managing 3 businesses, blogging, accounting, a social life, a fitness regime, meditation practice, family contact (across the world) and a Clinical Nutrition degree at Endeavour College, I’ve learnt a thing or two about managing my time effectively.

Try following these steps to an effective, productive, balanced life when you have many balls in the air!

1. Set boundaries

Boundaries are essential to maintain a balanced life. Knowing and understanding your own limits is key here – which only comes with practice. Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t manage everything perfectly all of the time. It’s a work in progress, and four years after leaving full-time work I’m still finding my groove! Consider what triggers your stress, what workload you can actually tolerate, and the quality of life you want to maintain. This will help you with step 2 below.

2. Batch + Compartmentalise.

Create a schedule by blocking out time for certain tasks and follow it. You have roughly 16 waking hours to play with so use your time consciously to make the most of each one. Eg. 1 hour workout, 1 hour for social media engagement, 2 hours for study or self-improvement, 1 hour social time, 1 hour answering emails etc etc. Be sure to leave room for personal appointments, interruptive phone calls and errands, and don’t forget to add important deadlines such as exams or project end dates.

3. Learn how to best manage your own stress

When you’re juggling a million things and your to-do list seems never ending, stress management needs to be something you really focus on. This can be trail and error – what works for me may not work for you. There are SO many ways to get your zen on – meditation, a jog, walking the dog, chatting to a mate, painting your nails, reading, taking a bath. Whatever it is, add it into your schedule DAILY. It’s a non-negotiable, like brushing your teeth. If you want / need to juggle so many things at once, you just need to do it.

4. Nourish,  Move, Hydrate + Sleep.

Your brain doesn’t function well if one of these 4 pillars is lacking. Prioritise 7-8 hours of sleep a night, feed yourself wholefoods full of vitamins and minerals, drink 3 litres of water a day and don’t neglect your steps.  Helpful tips to make this easier:

  • Keep a big bottle of water next to you so you mindlessly sip on it.
  • Stretch on waking and before bed.
  • Set a timer to stand up and move for ten minutes for every hour your sat working.
  • Fatty fish, dark chocolate, green tea and blueberries and my go-to brain foods for focus.

5. Reward yourself

You’re working yourself to the bone with a new structure (including self-care time) – here comes the reward to pat yourself on the back to keep that motivation buzzing. Give yourself permission to put yourself first and  lock in a monthly massage, a weekly facial, a coffee with a loved one - whatever truly brings you joy and lets you completely detach yourself from your responsibilities. Make sure it’s something you really look forward to. If you hit a speed bump, it can keep you eye focused on the end goal.

So now it’s time to put this into practice - grab a calendar and get scheduling.

Sally O'Neil - Editor in Chief

Sal is on a mission to prove that healthy and nutritious doesn’t have to be boring – and that even while staying in shape you can have your cake and eat it too. After losing 14kg from adopting a healthier lifestyle, she shares her journey with others on The Fit Foodie Blog. She also works as a commercial food photographer and stylist, is studying a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, and is the author of two cookbooks: Love Move Eat (Bauer Media, 2017) and Meal Prep Plan (Murdoch, 2019).

6 Comments
  1. I love that kind of article! Thank you for the tips! I am currently at the end of the semester at the university. I will try to organize my schedule differently and give myself more me time to finish the school year in a more pleasant way!

  2. Thanks for the tips Sally. Sometimes its hard to maintain work – life balance. But I hope these tips will be helpful,looking forward to follow them. Keep sharing. 🙂

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