As the world keeps turning, life gets more expensive. For the average college student, this is not ideal. This downhill financial slope has made it almost a requirement for college students to have a part-time job. In 2023, 39.6% of students had a part-time job, and this is projected to increase over time. Work-work balance is more important now more than ever to maintain positive mental health while managing academic responsibilities and work commitments. 

What is work-work balance?

Time management is a necessary skill for everyone but is essential for students to find the balance between work, fun, school and friends. However, things can get a little sticky when you add a job on top of those already pressing requirements. This is where work-work balance comes in. Work-work balance helps you find that sweet spot where you can healthily prioritize your commitments in the order that works best for you to avoid burnout.

How do you gain this work-work balance? It all starts with task delegation?

When you’re at school, task delegation is simple. You maintain organization over your assignments and projects, but when it comes to doing so, things can get lost in the mix. To help combat this, is helpful to use tools like: 

• – Calendars
• – Task Lists
• – Apps (such as Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Apple Calendar)

Work task delegation is similar. When at work, prioritizing your tasks is extremely important, especially in today’s mediatized world where distractions sit at our fingertips. As a student, communication is essential to have in the workplace, as well as prioritizing your tasks. 

Sydney Chappell, a Specialist on the UX Team, has everything in a calendar. “I have a lot of places to be and things to do everyday, so I stay on top of it all by keeping a giant calendar with I’m doing each day on it,” she said. “I also keep separate to-do lists for work, school, the Digital Corps, and personal things so I can prioritize each one, keeping everything organized so I don’t forget anything.” 

How can you actually put this into practice?

Good news! There are several good ways to practice a healthy work-work-life balance.

• – The Pomodoro Technique: A time management method that involves working in 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between. 
• – Time-blocking: A time management technique in which you divide up your day into blocks of time and assign tasks to each block. 
• – Scheduling breaks and leisure activities: Set time apart in your day where you sit down and do an activity that you want to do, not a task you just need to check off of your to-do list. 

The self-care aspects of work-life balance in general assist in the overall productivity in life. Prioritizing your sleep, exercise, and socializing is dire to having a successful workday. There are some things to keep in mind as you go about your work life reorganizing to find this balance:

• It’s okay to ask for help, there is no shame in needing assistance. 
• It is not the end of the world if something doesn’t get done, the sun will still rise tomorrow. 
• If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, that’s okay, find some ways to help such as taking a lap, or some breathing exercises. 
• Whatever works for you, works for you, there is no need to compare yourself to anyone around you.

Achieving a healthy work-work balance isn’t about doing it all perfectly; it’s about finding what works best for you while also making time for self-care along the way. Your productivity is a difficult thing to measure, but by prioritizing tasks, using time management tools, and allowing time for breaks, you can maintain a healthier and more productive routine.

Remember: it’s okay to ask for help, and taking care of your mental health is just as important as meeting deadlines. With a good balance, you can tackle both your academic and work commitments without feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders.