Work-Study Balance as an Overseas Student

Learning to balance work and studies is related to learning to play a complicated symphony. Each component, from academic obligations to job duties, is critical to achieving harmony. Let’s have a look at the important points that comprise this balancing act:

• Organising and Planning: Being an international student must be like juggling a thousand things at once. But do not worry! Your hidden weapon is an effective weekly routine. This isn’t only about studying; it’s about meeting professional obligations without losing your peaceful attitude.

Did you know that companies rank organisational skills among the top 11 most crucial talents they seek in new employees? This implies that, in order to win your ideal job and overcome the competition, you will need to perfect your organisational abilities one day.

The sooner you start, the better. Developing a strong habit of keeping organised at university will become second nature by the time you graduate. It will also make it simpler to balance work and study and achieve an efficient work-study balance. First and foremost:

1. Get a diary.
2. Make a list of every impending deadline, assignment, and homework.
3. Include all of your academics and work duties.
4. Use various colours to classify everything in descending order of priority.
5. Use highlighters, coloured pens, and page markers.
6. Having a tangible copy of every job you need to do will help you put things in perspective.

If you still believe that the old pen-and-paper technique has to be modernised, use planner applications and the calendar on your mobile devices. Turn on notifications and set them to pop up ahead of time. You might also make a spreadsheet to keep track of all tasks. You can share it with someone you trust and ask them to keep an eye on your progress.

• Time Management: Procrastination is an enemy that must be defeated! Procrastination is a thing of the past. Crush your desire to watch Netflix and ‘relax’ when you should be working. Divide activities into manageable chunks, build a boss-level plan, and watch productivity rise.

We all fall victim to procrastination from time to time. It cannot be completely prevented, but it may be mitigated. This is precisely what time management entails. Many people mistakenly believe that it means having no time for ourselves. That is not correct! On the contrary, good time management skills will help you achieve a better work-study-life balance.

When you start a job, you will lose some of the free time you had previously set aside for schooling. To effectively balance employment and education, you must manage your remaining time intelligently. Don’t stress yourself out by committing to schedules that you won’t always be able to keep, but don’t allow time to get away from you either. It will jeopardise your ability to properly balance employment and higher education. 

Pro tip: productivity applications can help you prevent procrastinating. Some measure how much time you spend concentrating, while others block all social media alerts for a set period of time to remove any distractions. Choose one that meets your requirements and put it to good use.

• Prioritise Tasks: Set priorities and understand when to say “no.” Take charge of your time, match your responsibilities to your goals, and accept that perfection is overrated. Embrace the pleasure of learning from turmoil.

Remember how we advised you in the first step to color-code outstanding chores in order of importance? To begin, you must be able to determine which are the most crucial. And it is sometimes more difficult than it appears.

You must be able to prioritise everything you do in order to balance employment and academics. Assume you have a tough exam coming up. It’s an unexciting class with a lecturer who despises you for no apparent reason. You’re not interested in the topic, and studying for it is the last thing on your mind right now. But you’re also looking forward to a project due in a few weeks. It may be a collaborative project you can work on with your classmates or a presentation on a topic you’re interested in.

So, despite the fact that the test is next week and the other assignment isn’t due until next month, you opt to focus on the latter first. You cannot do this if you wish to properly balance work and studies.

Being organised entails doing the most important activities first. We’ve previously stated how a job will take up part of the time you used to have to yourself. This means that things can no longer be done at random, but that the sequence in which they are done must be carefully considered.

Consider this: the sooner you do the more tedious but more important activities, the faster they will be completed, and you will be able to begin working on something you enjoy doing!

• Job vs. Academic Schedule:

It is difficult to balance work and study if your company does not assist you. When there are so many student-friendly companies to select from, don’t spread yourself too thin by working for someone who can’t meet your demands.

Students typically prefer jobs in hospitality, services, and retail. Because so many young people apply for them, companies are aware of their requirements and are prepared to work around their schedules.

Did you know that many employers ask interns to sign a learning agreement with a university? This is due to the fact that a company cannot legally provide an internship position in many countries without this required documentation. Hence, If being a student is typically a necessity for becoming an intern, it will come as no surprise to the employer that you are still attached to your commitments at university. They will assist you in balancing work and education by offering a flexible working schedule and acknowledging that you do not have the availability of full-time staff.

• Self-Motivation: It might be exhausting to continually juggle employment and studies. Some of your peers will have more free time, stay out later than you can, or go out more frequently.

Remember why you’re doing this in times of weakness? Remember how proud you felt when you got your first paycheck—the joy of buying something with your money for the first time. You don’t have to feel bad about indulging since it’s your money and you can only spend it on anything you want.

Consider how much ahead you will be on the job market when you graduate in comparison to everyone else who did not work while studying. Working and studying at the same time will have given you an array of organisational, managerial, and communication skills.

You will have graduated from university with employment experience to add to your graduate resume. This will set you above the competition and make you an attractive prospect for international employers.

• Health is Wealth: The key is to maintain your physical and psychological well-being! Keep in mind that you are still growing and should pay special attention to your health. Attempt to obtain 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Your immune system will be strengthened, your memory will increase, and you will be able to deal with stress much more effectively.

Eat a variety of healthy foods to keep your energy levels up throughout the day. Although it may be tempting to order food online, strive to maintain a more balanced diet while juggling your demanding schedule.