6 top tips how to balance work, life and studying

Natasja Jacobs describes how it is possible to thrive and not just survive while studying full-time alongside doing a side job.

When pursuing a full-time course at SOAS, the main focus is of course studying. That being said, London can be expensive and having a side job can make life more comfortable. However, balancing studies and a job whilst making the most of London life can be challenging. Here are some tips with actionable steps that have helped me navigate this. 

Choose a skill-building job

If possible, it is great if your side job can double up as valuable experience for your CV. As a student of Japanese and History of Art, my side job tutoring Japanese students English has enabled me to develop my language and mentoring skills. I found this job through a friend on my Japanese course, who in turn found the job posting on the SOAS careers website. 

The SOAS careers service is great for finding a relevant job, because listings are catered to SOAS students and can be filtered to your interests. By choosing a job that doubles up as language practice or work experience, you can build your skills and invest in your life beyond just the financial. 

Work around your studies, don’t study around your work 

The workload at university often fluctuates, particularly towards the end of term when assignments are due. Starting assignments early and planning for busy periods is effective, but it is not always possible to keep your workload completely even. It is important to bear this in mind and not base your availability on the first few weeks of term. 

Remember that studying is your main concern and make your work fit around studies, not vice versa. 

It may be worth considering a flexible job, a zero-hour contract or notifying your employer that your availability may vary. This allows you to adjust priorities based on your university schedule. In other words, remember that studying is your main concern and make your work fit around studies, not vice versa. 

Task compounding 

Decision fatigue is real, and planning when to get menial tasks such as cleaning, laundry and supermarket shopping done can contribute to increasing your mental load unnecessarily. Personally, I have found it useful to create a habit of always completing certain tasks together to make a ‘compound task’. For example, always putting the laundry on while doing Japanese homework on Monday afternoons and doing a food shop on the way back from the gym. This cuts out unnecessary decision-making, allowing you to focus on more important tasks.

Make the most of your commute

Many students commute to get to SOAS or their part-time job. This can feel like a waste of time and end up being a source of frustration. However, there are ways to make your commute valuable to you. For example, doing language flashcards, reading ahead of class or listening to a podcast in the language you are learning. 

You can also use your commute for relaxation by listening to a guided meditation, reading a book or listening to music. I find that by viewing my commute as time that I can use and not just an inconvenience, I can get the most out of it - and sometimes even enjoy it!

Schedule social and rest time 

Socialising and resting are equally as important as your studies. At the end of the day, the point of life is not to work tirelessly until complete exhaustion (a lesson many of us - myself included - end up learning the hard way). 

At the end of the day, the point of life is not to work tirelessly until complete exhaustion.

The truth is you can always do more, but that does not mean that you should. By scheduling time to socialise and to rest, you are committing to taking a break, the same way in which you commit to going to class or writing an essay. Remember that nurturing relationships and taking time to relax are essential for your mental health and happiness.

You can do everything, but not all at once 

Studying in London at SOAS brings so many amazing opportunities, from going out with friends to joining societies and sightseeing. You may have been told by well-meaning friends or relatives that you should say ‘yes’ to everything, that university is the ‘best time of your life’, that you should be going out all the time, making lifelong friends while also meeting your academic goals. The truth is, university can be all those things, just not all at the same time. 

I try to view my time at SOAS as different seasons. In the first half term, I had less work, which made it a more ‘social season’, whereas with AS2s piling up in the second half of the term, I accepted that my social life would take a backseat, prioritised routine and thought of it as an ‘academic phase’. 

Although it can feel like there is pressure to do everything all the time, you are not missing out by temporarily putting some aspects of your life on the back burner to make room for others; you’re honouring your goals and prioritising your mental health.

Actionable takeaways 

• Use the careers service to browse job options tailored to your interests.
• Consider your study schedule carefully and make allowances for fluctuations in your workload: Think about flexible working hours.
• Create compound habits to eliminate unnecessary decision-making.
• Plan tasks and activities for your commute that make you feel like you are making the most of that time.
• Allocate time for resting and spending time with friends, as you would for studying and going to class.
• Consider what kind of phase you are in: Are you more focused on studying, job applications or rest and socialising? Establish what is important in this phase, prioritise it and accept that some aspects of your life will take a backseat.

Header image credit: Nathana Rebouças via Unsplash.