How I find a study/life balance that works for me

Hello, my name is Lucille and recently I shared some tips on how I manage to fit in everything I do (you can see what exactly this is in my vlog) and because I had more to share here is part 2! I hope some of these tips resonate with you and give you ideas on how to make your life a little easier. Enjoy!

Networking & Social Life

I know quite a few people around Portsmouth. This is great for many reasons. Both for opportunities but also because scientifically speaking, knowing your community and surroundings (including everyone, the barista at the local coffee shop, your lecturers and your close friends) makes you feel safer and happier.

First Impressions

My best tip for newcomers is to make use of the first couple of weeks to make some lasting impressions. Smile at people and introduce yourself! Especially to people you see often.

My biggest tip here is to get to know your lecturers. This can seem intimidating but it is as easy as saying “Hello, how are you”, thanking them at the end of the lecture and potentially going to office hours.

Openness

A great way to kickstart lasting connections when you are new at University is opening up to people. As an international student, I can attest that calling my mum seems like the solution for everything. But sometimes, instead of reverting to what you know, maybe call someone from around here and form that new connection.

Friend Days

A great way to keep your social life vibrant is to schedule in “Friend days”. These can be the same day each week where you meet your friends to study or do any activity you’d like! This way you can ensure you see each other frequently and maybe also make time to study and hold each other accountable.

Another thing I like to do is have a dedicated day each week where I have space to schedule something social. This does not have to be the same thing each week.

Hobbies

Growing up I have always seen people who had one passion that they dedicated their all to. I always felt bad for not having one thing that I am an expert at. But growing older I realised that there is still passion and joy in having a multitude of hobbies and trying new things frequently.

Trying something new

I recommend trying something new at least once a month, alone or with a friend. I recently picked up playing chess for example, and while I am nowhere near an impressive rating, it is something that brings me joy and takes my mind off the everyday.

Sustainable habits

I also make sure to create sustainable (realistic and attainable) habits for long term hobbies, like reading. I use the atomic habits app (atoms) for this - I also recommend the book. Giving these hobbies dedicated spaces in your schedule is crucial. An example of this is that I do a sudoku each night before bed and try to read 20 pages in the mornings before doing anything else.

Fill your cup

On that note, the best way to ensure you stay energised throughout the day is by making sure you do at least one thing just for yourself in the mornings, before you do anything for anyone else.

This means not checking your phone for messages or emails, not doing work or just jumping out of bed and to University. But making time to “fill your cup” before anyone else’s by taking care of your own needs makes the day seem a lot more manageable and joyful.

A great way to visualise your cup is by filling a jar up with beads or something similar (I collected little stones from the beach) and taking one bead out every time you use your energy on a task. This helps me keep track of my energy levels and gives me a reward system (putting a bead in the cup everytime I take care of myself I quite literally “fill my cup”).