Keeping up with study, work, social life and personal time all at once as a student is a real feat of “superheroism”. But that balance can be kept!
Signs of the problem: not enough time — that “24 hours isn't enough!” feeling, constantly running between class and work; fatigue and stress — sleepless nights, running out of energy; FOMO (fear of missing out) — worries like “I can't spend time with friends” and “I'm falling behind in class”.
“Smart” planning: Ali marks his class and work schedule in Google Calendar, setting a time limit for each task (for example, “2 hours — coursework”). Do the important and urgent tasks first, and put off or decline tasks that are “not important”.
Set boundaries: Zuhra set a rule at her workplace — “I don't answer the phone during class time” — and agreed to work three days a week. Talk openly with your employer or teacher, and remind them that you are a student.
Make time for yourself: Farida does 20 minutes of yoga every day, which helps her reduce stress. Set aside at least 30 minutes a day for yourself — reading, music, sport.
The “good enough” principle: Sardor realised he couldn't do every task perfectly, and learned to give more time to important classes and less to the rest. Don't demand 100% perfection in everything — “good enough” is a solution too.
The lesson of life: balancing study and work is a matter of skill and strategy. You're not a robot, you're a human being! By resting from time to time, learning to say “no”, and planning ahead, you can find time for everything.
An example: when Aziza started work in her first year, her concentration in class suffered because of sleeplessness and stress. She raised her sleep from 6 to 8 hours a day and began studying with the “Pomodoro technique” (25 minutes of work plus 5 minutes of rest). After two weeks she had improved not only at work but in her studies too.
A reminder: balance is a process that renews itself every day. Be kind to yourself!
Sardor Otayorov, psychologist of Mirzo Ulugbek Samarkand State Technical University.
