Importance of work-life balance

Work-life balance for an international student is essential to make life in an study abroad country much more accessible. Indian students abroad, students can feel a bit overwhelmed by the transitions and adjusting to the new life. It becomes crucial to focus on all the efforts placed into studying while taking self-care. A healthy work-life balance will prevent the students from ay 'burn-out' while supporting good physical and mental for them. This blog is about the tips and tricks used to balance university work and a part-time job along with having a relaxation time.

Ideally, students are supposed to devote their time and effort to studies however, on the international grounds, students have to work part-time, so it becomes essential to take out time for rest and relaxation during the working work. Let's address ways to manage a part-time job as it is necessary to cover the cost of studying. Speaking from an international student's perspective, the task of managing a part-time job along with studies is not as straightforward or cool as it sounds when chilling in your home. There are certain working hour limits in different countries so that the students keep up with it, follow independent learning and attend the classes. I will recommend looking for job opportunities that allow flexible working hours, for example, if a student is pursuing a doctoral degree will have a chance to work as a graduate teaching assistant on the campus as a part-time job. Following the working hour rules will be beneficial for the students as it allows them to divide their time between part-time work and academics, for example, working for 7+7+6 hours for three days a week, while the other three days can attend university and focus on studies, lastly, there is one day a week left to relax and do personal chores.

Apart from managing the time among part-time jobs and studies, students studying in abroad at universities must follow healthy study habits, especially during the time of increased workflow and struggling to find a relaxation time. Following healthy sleeping habits and avoiding all-nighters will help maintain the body's calm as lack of sleep can negatively affect the functioning of the brain, which will influence the immune and digestive systems. Another important fact for students is that proper hours of sleep will consolidate memory and retain what you have learnt!

So, always prepare a schedule and stick to it, to maintain a routine that will include time for work, studies and what they call 'me time'.