Work-Life Balance in Graduate School Graduate school comes with a lot of responsibilities - classes, assignments, exams, internships, and balancing multiple roles. Being a graduate student is not your only identity or involvement. Most graduate students are also working (part-time or full-time) and hold other identities, including but not limited to, being a parent, a partner/spouse, or a caregiver. It can feel like there is so much to do with so little time. Learning how to balance multiple responsibilities is important. When imbalance occurs, it opens the door for stress, anxiety, worry, burnout, and sometimes depression. Below are some things to consider when trying to navigate healthy work-life balance. Practice compassionate time management •
Set small, realistic goals for yourself and set specific times to accomplish tasks
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Use a planner or organizer to write down your commitments, plans
Create a self-care plan •
Be intentional about activities that calm and energize you
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Incorporate one rejuvenating activity to your schedule per week (i.e. reading for leisure, listening to music, deep breathing exercises, unplugging from social media, or dancing) Plan for the week AND the weekend
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Be mindful about having fun and enjoyable activities planned for week and the weekend
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Think about boundary setting for the work week and weekend
Get connected and reach out for support •
Know that support is available, both through on-campus and community resources, as graduate students.
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For more information, visit www.loyola.edu/counselingcenter
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