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Balance

Students‛ best advice for a healthy student life

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In this article, you will be presented with various methods and tools to handle the ups and downs of student life and achieve a more satisfying balance between education and leisure. We have asked the three students, Johan, Maja, and Karoline, about their experiences and strategies for a good student life.

Table of contents

  • Clear goals and interest as motivational factors
  • Balance between study and free time
  • Group work fosters both learning and conflict
  • Tools for managing time pressure and deadlines
  • Good advice for other students
See weekly schedule for a STEM student

Clear goals and interest as motivational factors

It is no secret that student life can be challenging. You handle deadlines, engage in group work, and understand complex reading material, all while trying to find the right balance between study and free time. In a student life survey conducted by IDA in 2024, it appears that 11% of IDA’s student members are dissatisfied with their student life. Of these, 20% express that it is „stress, time pressure, and mental health‟ that are decisive for their dissatisfaction.

Motivation is an important factor as a student, and something that can be difficult to find when facing a busy or challenging period. Johan, who is studying for a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and technology, says that his motivation comes from a mix of duty and interest in the subjects of the study:

In challenging periods, I tell myself that I have committed to this for a reason. It is the sense of duty towards myself and towards completing the study that matters. However, it has rarely been so bad that it has not been primarily driven by interest for me.
Johan

That it is the interest in the study that greatly generates motivation also applies to Maja, another student:

I am motivated by having a great interest in the subjects my study focuses on. Additionally, I have a relevant student job where I can use many of the skills I acquire in my studies, which is also a huge driving force for my motivation. When I need to keep my motivation up, I try to find some points of reference or interests in the courses I have, which I either have an interest in or which I will be able to use once I graduate. If I can connect the topics from the courses to something that is relevant to me or within my areas of interest, it is easier to absorb the material.
Maja

For Karoline (Energy, AAU), motivation is linked to having a clear goal, but the social aspect of the study and group work also motivates Karoline in her daily life:

I try to have some goals. The goal is mostly to be ready for an exam and do well, and that of course requires a certain amount of work. I do a lot of group work in my study, so that is also something that helps with motivation. Both that there are others you sometimes have to be accountable to, but also that there are people you can talk to about your challenges.
Karoline

Template

Example of a weekly schedule for a STEM student

The weekly schedule is based on an 8th semester student in Biotechnology at DTU Lyngby. The schedule is not a prescription for how you should organize your daily life, but rather should be used as inspiration to balance your student life optimally for you.
Download weekly schedule

Balance between study and free time

Maintaining a good balance between study and free time is crucial for well-being during the study period. From IDA’s student life survey (2024), it appears that many students do not have the capacity for anything other than their studies because it takes all their focus and energy. If the balance is disrupted, it can have significant consequences. Karoline says that her problem is often that she does too much in her free time, and therefore it affects the amount of time she has for her studies.

I can have difficulty maintaining an overview once I have fallen a bit behind. To find time, it may be necessary to cancel some other activities, which I find annoying. Conversely, it is also not optimal for me when the study takes up too much of my time. I do not become happier with my study by spending excessively many (extra) hours on it, as it is important for me to have room for breaks, sports, and friendships.
Karoline

Maja also experiences that the study can sometimes block free time:

It has previously made me have to say no to some of the things I otherwise like to do. [...] Sometimes I have been going at too high a pace for too long, where I have forgotten to prioritize some breaks in my daily life, where I have done something that gives me energy and joy.
Maja

Both Karoline and Maja greatly enjoy doing things unrelated to their studies as a much-needed break from the books. It helps them clear their minds and focus on something else, especially activities that require being present in the moment.

While Karoline unwinds through social engagements and sports, Maja uses carefully planned weekly schedules to make time for things that also matter to her: for example, baking sourdough, knitting/crocheting, or staying active with strength training, running, or walking.

I plan my weeks based on the reading load in my courses, my lectures, work, training, and other activities. My weekly schedules vary from week to week depending on the reading load and other things in my life that take up time.
Karoline

Group work fosters both learning and conflict

In most studies, you will at some point have to go through a larger or smaller amount of group work. The three students agree that there are many advantages to working in groups, the most important of which are being able to leverage each other’s strengths and having someone to spar with. For Johan, it has mostly been a positive experience to be able to discuss with like-minded people:

I see group work almost exclusively as an advantage. Most importantly, I find the sparring with people who are all as knowledgeable about the subject as myself.
Johan

But with group work, conflicts can also arise regarding the focus of the task and friction due to different working methods and habits. For example, Maja says that she has often had to compromise her own ways of working to fit with the other group members, and Karoline points out that setting expectations is essential:

Conflicts often stem from not having properly discussed what expectations you have of each other. [...] I think it is important to address them at the beginning of the work and also follow up along the way.
Karoline
When there have been conflicts in the groups I have been part of, we have had a discussion with each other about the challenges. For example, if someone is under pressure and therefore has not been able to contribute as much, we know that we need to be a little extra attentive to that person and ensure that they do not fall further behind.
Maja
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Balance in your student life

Achieving balance in student life is crucial for both well-being and academic success. This course will provide you with practical tools and insights to help you navigate the demands of your studies and maintain a healthy balance between study and life outside.
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Tools for managing time pressure and deadlines

When it comes to structuring their studies, the three students have very different ways of handling it. Johan follows his gut feeling a lot and generally has a ‚go-with-the-flow‛ approach to tasks:

In my daily life, it is very much based on gut feeling. There is rarely conscious control over anything. In project work, I start by achieving as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and when the scope feels reached, I scale down.
Johan

At the opposite end of the scale, Maja has a very structured approach to her student life, both when it comes to reading and writing assignments:

When I need to read, I usually refer to the lecturer's teaching plan to get an overview. During my reading, I write important concepts into a note template along with the page number they are on, and when I have finished reading the text, I write a summary and the main points. When I need to write assignments, I usually create a mind map of which theories and methods I think will make sense. Then I start to get an overview of what to go with and what makes the most sense in the assignment.
Maja

Good advice for other students

Here are the three students' best tips for other students.

Related

If you found this article insightful for achieving balance in student life, you can find more inspiration in the content below:
What is your ideal student life
Do you know what your student life should look like? Not just the direction, but also how the balance between study and leisure should shape up?
Read more
What are your expectations for your studies?
As a student in a STEM program, you are probably used to high demands, both from lecturers, your surroundings, and not least from yourself.
Read more
Considering taking a break from your studies?
There can be many reasons to consider a break; more time for personal projects, financial considerations, or to prevent burnout.
Read more
Why it is important to say no
The expectations of balancing study tasks, student jobs, social activities, and personal development can create pressure that can easily lead to stress and burnout.
Read more

Use IDA to achieve balance in student life

As a student member of IDA, you receive personal advice if you find it difficult to balance your student life. You can also get an overview of events near you if you need a social break.
Personal career advice Events