How to Balance Work and School: Tips for Managing Stress and Finding Work-Life Balance

In the context of physics, work is defined as the transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied to an object, causing it to move (Oxford University, 2024). When I asked my family what work means to them, they provided insightful responses: "It's the thing you do to earn money," "It's essential for survival, you need to work to live," and "You need work to cover maintenance and expenses, sustaining your life."

These perspectives highlight a fascinating parallel. In our modern society, the need to earn money to survive functions like the force applied to an object. The paychecks or money earned for a day's work symbolize the transfer of energy, representing the tangible rewards of our efforts.

Stress Associated with Work and School

For individual still in school, their largest commitment is not work but rather completing their education and academic responsibilities. Hence, both school and work require meeting deadlines, maintaining discipline, collaborating with others, and achieving specific objectives. Work and school can both be significant sources of stress. At work, tight deadlines, demanding tasks, income, and high expectations can lead to anxiety and burnout (Mayoclinic, n.d). Similarly, school can be stressful due to homework, exams, and the pressure to achieve good grades. Balancing these responsibilities with personal life can further amplify stress levels, impacting overall well-being.

Work-life Balance

As someone in her early 20s, I am still attempting and striving to maintain a work-life balance. Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between professional responsibilities and personal life. It involves managing work commitments and personal activities in a way that allows for a fulfilling and healthy life both at work and outside of it. Thus, I want to clock out at 5 pm and enjoy the rest of my evenings. However, the stresses and responsibilities often follow me into the evening. I have spent most of my life in careers that involve working with children, and one of my previous employers once asked me, “Would you bring one of your clients home?” I gasped and laughed at the thought. “That would be kidnapping!” I exclaimed but realized the message behind her statement. That was exactly what I was doing; I was bringing home the problems that the children brought to my attention. Forbes states that leaders can’t give their employees work-life balance and that each person has to decide for themselves whether they will take it (Thomas, 2022).

Key Components of Work-Life Balance

Time management is vital because it enhances productivity, reduces stress, and helps achieve a balanced and fulfilling life. To achieve this, start by prioritizing tasks and setting realistic goals to ensure that you focus on what is most important and achievable. This helps prevent overwhelming feelings and allows you to make steady progress toward your objectives. Utilizing planners, to-do lists, or calendars can greatly aid in organizing your day, providing a clear visual representation of your tasks and deadlines. These tools help you allocate time efficiently, avoid procrastination, and maintain a structured approach to both work and personal activities.

Effectively setting boundaries is critical for achieving a healthy work-life balance. Start by reflecting on what matters most to you in both your personal and professional life, as this helps you understand your priorities and set meaningful limits. Once you have a clear understanding, communicate your boundaries clearly to your colleagues, managers, and family members to ensure everyone respects your limits. To further protect your personal space, avoid bringing work devices into areas like the bedroom or dining area, which should remain dedicated to relaxation and family time. Additionally, turn off work notifications outside of work hours to prevent work from intruding on your personal life.

Establishing physical boundaries is also important for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Begin by setting a clear start and end time for your workday to delineate work hours from personal time, which helps create a sense of structure and predictability. This separation ensures that work does not encroach on your personal life, allowing you to fully disengage and recharge. Additionally, allocate dedicated time for personal activities, hobbies, and relaxation to ensure you have space for leisure and self-care. Engaging in these activities not only promotes well-being but also enhances productivity when you return to work. It's essential to treat personal commitments with the same importance as work commitments, giving them equal priority and respect in your daily schedule.

Lastly, self-care is critically important because it directly impacts your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Thus, by prioritizing self-care, you ensure that you have the energy and resilience to handle different types of challenges. The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes various types of self-care that can contribute to overall health. These include social, emotional, physical, and spiritual self-care (n.d). Some common ways people recharge can include going to the gym, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with friends, etc.

Since I am also in the process of improving my work-life balance, I want to start a discussion. Please feel free to reach out to me or comment below with tips on how you maintain a healthy equilibrium between your professional and personal life.

References

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). The Road to Resilience: How to build resilience. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience

Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Burnout: Understanding symptoms and treatment. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642

Oxford University Press. (2024). Oxford Languages and Google - English Dictionary. Retrieved from https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en

Thomas, M. (2022, July 26). What does work-life balance even mean? Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurathomas/2022/07/26/what-does-work-life-balance-even-mean/