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As a student, you’re expected to focus on your coursework but you should also take time to develop yourself personally. This can be a daunting prospect: adding additional work experience, extracurriculars, hobbies and a social life atop an already busy academic calendar can seem like an impossible balancing act. However, this is an important aspect of personal and professional growth, with law firms seeming to care more and more about how future graduates are spending time beyond their studies. I’ve just finished my third year at university, and am soon to start my fourth and final year. While there have been points where time seems tight, I’ve managed to keep up some semblance of a healthy schedule, balancing my studies with going to the gym, pursuing hobbies, socialising and part-time work. Here are some ways I balance my time and responsibilities.

Selection

When selecting extracurriculars and part-time work, think about how these might benefit you personally and professionally. You should enjoy how you spend your free time but ideally it’ll also be something that looks good to potential employers and develops transferable skills. If you’re spending your time doing something that’s neither enjoyable nor useful, it might be time better spent elsewhere. Getting involved in a sport, societies (not just law societies!), hobbies or volunteering activities can all be personally enriching and valuable experiences. There can be a temptation to get involved in absolutely everything but you must be realistic about how much time you have, and what your priorities are. Quality over quantity! You should consider how much time each activity takes up in the week and whether there’s flexibility there for busier times in the academic calendar. 

Organisation

On its own, an academic calendar can be a lot to handle and balancing multiple additional responsibilities becomes even more challenging. This is particularly true during exam season where you might have multiple coinciding assessments, so it can be vital to keep important dates and deadlines in a calendar or planner and set yourself early reminders so tasks aren’t left to the last minute or forgotten. Break tasks and goals into smaller parts and set a realistic timeline on when these should be completed. Develop a routine and allocate a regular time each day to study. Try different studying techniques to figure out the most effective and efficient uses of your time. Minimise distractions as best you can and consider switching off unnecessary devices or limiting certain apps and notifications during your study time. 

Communication

Whether it’s your manager, friend, band leader or gym buddy, effective communication of your availability is key in managing your commitments. When coursework and exams start to take up more of your week, letting people know you might not have as much time for other responsibilities or activities is important in managing your time, expectations and stress. It can be easy for things to pile up, so be proactive. Although sometimes it may not be possible to simply reject additional responsibilities, learning how and when to say no is incredibly valuable. For example, at a part-time job you should make it clear in advance when you’ll be unavailable and reduce shifts/hours accordingly if necessary. 

Self-care

Above all else, your wellbeing is the most important aspect in your continued success – taking care of yourself can be the best investment of your time. Ensure you’re getting good sleep, eating well and try to exercise regularly, whether that’s going to the gym or for a walk. Allow yourself time to take breaks, relax and do something fun. When you need it, don’t be afraid to seek support from family and friends. As mentioned, learning how and when to turn down additional responsibilities is a helpful skill. Incorporating structured study techniques (eg, the Pomodoro Technique) can also help you to balance your studies with your life.

Managing extracurricular activities and part-time work alongside a busy academic schedule can be difficult, but diligent planning, communication and prioritisation can help you make the most of your time. Time management is a skill, and it can take some trial and error to figure out what works for you. However, by learning how to manage your schedule now you’ll be setting yourself up well for professional life.