It is difficult this time of year with deadlines, dissertations and exams looming over our heads and sometimes it feels like there is not enough hours in the day. Being burnt out and tired is too frequent and motivation is at an all-time low. Panic is setting in with due dates creeping closer and closer.
For those students particular who juggle employment and studies, it is a daunting task and the extra pressure means more of a challenge to maintain a healthy balance between study, work and social life - but what of the latter is there during this period anyway.
Focusing on academics, we all want to be successful and do well in our assessments but having extra commitments means some students have to re-prioritise and reassess their obligations. Finding a balance can be difficult and time can be spread thin and having to set aside a significant number of hours to earn money, can put some students at a disadvantage.
What is important to consider though, is those who do have jobs have better time management and organisation skills than others. It puts them at an advantage since organising and scheduling time to do uni work or when to do shifts, is developing skills that put them at an advantage.
A little experience can go along way
Additionally, there is the fact that having a job gives them work experience that many graduates do not have and then struggle to find employment after graduation. Having a little experience can go a long way and having a job can also mean having a time out away from revising. A good reason to step away from the computer to work an evening shift can be a mind reset and there is the added bonus of having an income.
University is expensive and students do seek out alternative means of financing their education because loans don’t even cover rent these days. With cost of living going up are these students sacrificing too much and can the university offer additional support to those students?
Exhaustion can play a significant role and can impact academic performance. Sleep is too valuable and affects productivity needed to get through the assessment period. Scheduling and timetabling can help can create a routine that is functional and realistic, but this is dependent on circumstances and students setting reasonable goals.
Balancing a work and study life feels like you are working an 80-hour week at times, and it can be very draining. Whether it is fair for students who have a job to work during assessments depends on the individual’s circumstances, priorities, and their perseverance. All students can achieve academic success and when they succeed it just goes to show they are capable of doing so much more, but the hinderances upon those working must be acknowledged.
