As exams begin to take focus for students, Dee France, Manager for the Thrive Wellbeing Hub, details how to balance your work, study and life commitments while prioritising your wellbeing and mental health 

The life of a Chartered Accountant student can be tough! 

Long work days, commuting, long evenings and weekends attending lectures, studying, practice papers, mocks – all while contending with the busy season. 

This is without even mentioning all the other demands that impact our daily lives – family, kids, pets, sports and hobbies, downtime, and social obligations. 

Juggling all of this can feel like you are being pulled in many different directions and life can feel hectic and chaotic. This demands a lot of physical and mental energy and space. Being up against the clock 24/7 with very competing tasks requires focus, determination and resilience. 

So, how do you balance it all without becoming too overwhelmed or—even worse—burnt out? 

Let me check my schedule 

To balance your life, you need to be aware of everything you have on your plate, get organised and be a bit ruthless with your schedule. 

At the start of each week, plan out the week ahead. Don’t overburden or over-pressure yourself, but get into the nitty gritty of your days and weeks, whether it's work-time, study-time, family commitments, social or other extracurricular activities – schedule it! 

In the run-up to exams, employers may have a study leave policy in place. This can help you solely focus your efforts on preparing for your exams. 

If this isn’t available to you, consider taking some annual leave so work commitments are softened and you have some extra time free.  

We would even recommend scheduling daily downtime – switching off for at least 30 minutes at the end of each day will let you wind down before going to bed. 

Pocketful of time 

During exam season, time can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. 
Now that your schedule is set, can you find extra time in your day to study? Look to capitalise on little pockets of extra time during the day or wasted downtime for quick burst study sessions. 

Get creative with your time. Commuting? Why not use your journey to revise? Working from home? Use the time you would spend commuting to study. Finished your lunch? Crack out the study notes. Cooking dinner? Listen to a lecture as you prep. 

Social caterpillar 

At Thrive, we often hear how students cancel plans or feel guilty for socialising during studies. While you may have to cut back on your social plans, it is important to create space for enjoyment and rest. 

It is paramount to have time away from your studies and have some fun. It allows you to recharge and relax, pulls you from your relentless routine and schedule and allows for a bit of calm and lightness in all the chaos. 

Health hacks 

While it may seem obvious, we at Thrive can’t stress enough just how important it is to look after your mental and physical health throughout your studies.  

Pouring so much physical and mental energy into your efforts can make you feel fatigued, overwhelmed and stressed, leaving you vulnerable to physical and mental health concerns. 

Sleeping eight hours a night, exercising daily, and eating well are extremely important for protecting yourself from burnout, reducing your stress levels, and increasing your energy. 

Give yourself time to step away from your work and studies. Relaxing helps clear your head and keeps you motivated and productive. 

So, whether that’s a chapter of your book, an episode of your favourite show, some yoga, or a podcast, always give yourself permission to relax guilt-free. 

Lean on your support system

If you are struggling and find it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, seek help from your support system. 

Many of your managers, mentors, and lecturers have more than likely been through the same experience and can empathise with what you are going through. They may also be able to give you some valuable advice. 

Your peers and colleagues will be sitting their exams at the same time, so setting up a weekly study group may prove beneficial in managing work and study. 

Have your support system hold you accountable, too. If those close to you see that you are doing too much, have them make sure you are finishing work/study at a reasonable time. If you are falling behind, they can crack the whip. 

Maybe your loved ones could take on a large proportion of the shared roles for the time being, whether that’s getting the children to bed, cooking dinner or housework. 

Also, keep in mind the many student supports available to you through the education department or here at Thrive. The Thrive Wellbeing Hub provides a comprehensive mental health and wellness programme with a wide range of services tailored to our students’ needs.

For more advice or information, check out Thrive’s Wellbeing Hub. Alternatively, you can contact the team by email at thrive@charteredaccountants.ie or phone at (+353) 86 0243294.