Author: Mei Ling Tan

As a student, one of the biggest challenges you’ll face—or probably are already facing—is balancing your studies and your personal life. Nowadays, many students face an enormous amount of pressure to do well in school, and to reach those expectations, some of them choose to prioritize their academics at the expense of their health, relationships, and general well-being. However, doing this can be detrimental to their welfare, and it may even cause a decline in their academic performance.

Taking care of your physical and emotional health is crucial to doing well in school, which is why it’s important to maintain that balance between your personal life and studies.It’s especially important if you’re attending a high school in Singapore for international students, as the culture can be different and the standards can be more rigorous. On that note, here are a few ideas and insights on how you can strike that perfect balance between doing well academically and still having a fulfilling personal life.

Learn How To Manage Your Time

When it comes down to it, achieving balance between academics and your life outside of it all comes down to how well you manage your time. The idea is to not spend too much of it on one thing or the other.

That might seem difficult to do at first, but like all skills, time management can also be learned. There are a lot of tools out there that you can use to stay on track, too. Start by making a weekly to-do list and putting it somewhere you can always see, such as a desk calendar, a whiteboard in your room, or your phone or computer. Having a visual reminder of the things you need to get done can help you focus your efforts. Ranking your tasks in order of importance or difficulty can also help you get them out of the way faster. If you are the type of person who gets easily distracted, time management techniques such as setting a Pomodoro timer while studying or doing your homework can improve your effectiveness.

Lead A Healthy Lifestyle

As a young person, you probably feel that you have a lot of energy and are confident that you can skip meals and pull all-nighters without feeling the negative effects much. However, making a habit of neglecting your physical health can and will take its toll on you eventually. When you skip meals, your body doesn’t receive the nutrition it needs to function properly, leading to lower energy levels and reduced cognitive abilities. You may experience a drop in blood glucose levels, causing your brain to slow down and making it harder for you to focus or create. The same happens when you don’t give yourself enough time to rest. You’ll feel fatigued, and it will be harder for you to think and concentrate. You’ll also feel more impatient and irritable.

Know that while your studies are important, it’s more important to take care of yourself. How you feel physically will inform the way you perform, so make an effort to fulfill your needs as they present themselves. When you eat, choose foods that are healthy and wholesome instead of ones that are packed with sugar, salt, and empty calories. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet and drink plenty of water. Try aiming for seven or eight hours of sleep every night, and make an effort to go to bed early. When you feel great, you tend to do great at school, too.

Watch Out For Signs of Stress

Everyone experiences stress differently, and it can be a good or a bad thing depending on how you respond to and deal with it. For some people, stress is a motivator that helps them concentrate and get things done. For others, stress can be crippling instead, making it harder to finish one’s tasks. Either way, too much stress will always be bad for you.

You may be experiencing stress overload if you feel frequently irritable or moody, or if you feel as though there’s never enough time in the day. Anxiety and panic attacks are also a common symptom of excessive stress. Sometimes, it may also manifest physically through stomach pains or migraines.

The importance of taking breaks simply cannot be overstated. Breaks can help reset your mind and keep your stress levels manageable. You can also relieve stress through healthy and positive pursuits such as working out, doing some meditation and breathing exercises, and talking to friends or loved ones. Find ways to make yourself laugh, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Be an Achiever, Not a Perfectionist

Most people think that being a perfectionist is a good thing. However, it more than likely is holding you back instead of propelling you forward. Perfectionism makes you measure your self-worth on your achievements and the outcomes of the things you do. It also makes you afraid of failure and pushes you to be overly critical of yourself.

Instead of setting your standards too high, go for ones that are achievable. Instead of brooding on the mistakes you’ve made, look at them as opportunities to learn and improve from. Finally, always be kind to yourself, no matter what. Be easy on yourself, and you’ll find that any kind of task becomes easier to do as well.

Finding that perfect balance between performing well at school and still enjoying your life as a young person will be difficult, but with a few adjustments, you should be able to excel at both. If you still find yourself struggling, your school should be able to provide you with the necessary resources, guidance, and assistance to help lighten your load.