In life, we all experience both busy, fast-paced days and slower, more relaxed ones. While a fast-paced lifestyle can feel productive, it often leads to stress, burnout, and mental health struggles if sustained for too long. Personally, balancing studying, a part-time job, organisational work, volunteering, working out, and hobbies sometimes overwhelms me. Over time, I’ve learned that mindfulness and balance are essential. By staying organised and setting clear priorities, I can manage my fast-paced days without burning out and continue growing. Here are my top 3 tips from my experience through the years that will help you, number 3 will help you a lot in life!

First, I always try to plan ahead.

I use the Pareto Principle, which is the idea that 20% of your efforts can create 80% of your results. For example, if I have 10 tasks at school or university, usually 2 or 3 of them are the really important ones, like starting early on a major paper, studying for a midterm that’s worth a big chunk of my grade, or preparing for a final project presentation. If I focus on those first, I avoid cramming and last-minute stress, and I have more time later to relax or handle other things.

On the other hand, smaller tasks like helping out with organising a club event, responding to emails, attending committee meetings, or extracurricular activities are still good to do, but they don’t have as big an impact on my academics. These activities can take up a lot of time if I’m not careful, and even though they’re important for networking or leadership experience, they won’t immediately save me from academic pressure if I’m falling behind. It’s really important to focus on the big chunk first, the tasks that have the most impact on grades or deadlines. If I get those done early, I reduce my stress and have more flexibility to handle the smaller things later. Otherwise, it’s easy to get busy with minor tasks and still feel overwhelmed when the important deadlines creep up.

Second, be flexible. 

Supporting the first point, while focusing on major tasks is key, another essential element for well-being during busy academic periods is building a flexible routine. It’s not about sticking to a rigid schedule that causes more stress but creating one that allows you to balance work and rest effectively.

By setting clear time blocks for studying, breaks, extracurriculars, and personal time, I can better manage my day and prevent burnout. For example, I allocate specific time slots for deep work, like studying for exams or writing papers, but I also set aside time for physical activities, hobbies, and social interactions. This ensures I don’t feel overwhelmed or isolated. What’s important is that this routine isn’t set in stone. Life is unpredictable, so I leave room for adjustments. If I need a break or an unexpected event comes up, I don’t panic. Instead, I use this flexibility to get back on track and maintain my productivity without feeling stressed. This approach to time management allows me to stay productive without feeling like I’m sacrificing my personal life or mental health in the process.

Third, “fake it till you make it.”

Let’s be honest, even though we don’t want to work all the time, it cannot be avoided during a packed schedule. You’d definitely want to maximise your time effectively, which often leads to burnout. I personally often feel like not wanting to do anything after a couple of days of being busy, and sometimes there are unexpected events that affect my mood. But instead of letting my bad mood control my day and procrastinating, which you can’t afford during busy periods, I act like I’m happy doing it, even if sometimes I’m not. For example, when there’s an essay I have to work on, but my previous grade just came up and I got a bad grade despite trying so hard, I could feel discouraged. Instead of feeling down, I act like I’m more than capable of doing it because I’m interested in the topic. This mindset has helped me not just in university work but in discipline, exploring new opportunities, and more. Moreover, most of the time, the results of this approach exceeds my own expectations and goals.

That’s it for my top 3 tips for maintaining well-being during hectic academic weeks. Thank you for reading, and remember, taking care of your well-being isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity if you want to thrive in life. Stay balanced, stay mindful, and keep pushing forward!

Written by Cecilia (Second year BSc Management specialising in Innovation, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship)

Related