Balancing Academics and Personal Projects: Student Perspectives

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7 min readJul 12, 2023

Hey there! You know, as a student, it’s not easy to juggle schoolwork and exams. They can consume all your time and energy. But let me tell you, taking a break from those assignments and diving into personal projects that you’re passionate about can bring a whole new level of motivation, energy, and inspiration. The key is finding the right balance. So, I wanted to share some insights from students on how they manage to balance academics with their hobbies, side projects, and work outside of school.

One approach that works for some students is to schedule their side projects into their calendars. Take Joanna, for example. She’s a chemistry student who says, “I block out time in my calendar for things I enjoy, like working on my blog or podcast. If I don’t schedule it, schoolwork tends to take up all my time.” By setting clear boundaries and making time for personal pursuits, they can avoid being consumed by schoolwork.

On the other hand, there are students like Raul, an engineering student, who find that focusing on personal interests outside of their coursework recharges their batteries and improves their academic performance. Raul explains, “My personal drone project gives me a break from books and papers. When I return to studying, I’m more focused and engaged in the material.” It’s amazing how the projects we care about the most can enhance our learning experience.

Moreover, many students find that their personal side projects and ambitions can diversify their resume and skillset beyond their major coursework. Just ask Elizabeth, a communications major. She says, “Working as a student social media manager for campus groups has opened more doors for internships and jobs after graduation than anything else on my resume.” Personal projects can provide valuable real-world experience that complements your studies.

Now, let’s be honest. Balancing school and personal interests can be challenging. But here’s the thing — most students agree that even making a little space for personal projects outside of your course load can recharge your motivation and improve the quality of your academic work. Finding that sweet spot depends on your schedule, goals, and priorities. So, take a step outside the academic realm now and then and build a well-rounded experience as a student.

How can I make sure I’m not overloading myself with too many personal projects?

Yes, somehow students end up with a ton of personal projects, and as a result, they begin to fall behind in school or college activities. Okay, listen up! If you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with too many personal projects as a student, here are some important things to keep in mind:

Step 1: Know your limits

Take a good, hard look at your schedule and figure out how much time you can dedicate to personal projects. Be realistic and consider your academic commitments like classes, studying, and assignments. You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew!

Step 2: Start with one passion project

Instead of diving headfirst into multiple big commitments, pick one project that you’re passionate about. It’s better to focus your energy on something achievable before taking on more. Don’t push yourself more, and don’t miss the enjoyment part.

Step 3: Set clear goals and deadlines

For each project, be clear about what you want to achieve and set realistic timelines. This will help you gauge if you’re taking on too much at once. Stay organized and hold yourself accountable! No cheating with your timeline. Got it?

Step 4: Leave room for the unexpected

Life happens, right? So make sure you build in some buffer time for unexpected demands on your schedule, whether it’s from schoolwork, friends, family, or just life in general. Don’t overfill your plate! If it is overfilled, take a long breath and smile, then start.

Step 5: Take breaks and recharge

Don’t forget to prioritize your well-being. Schedule in time for rest, recreation, and relaxation. Burnout is a real thing, and you want to avoid it at all costs. Your projects will benefit from a refreshed and energized you!

Step 6: Regular check-ins

It’s important to periodically evaluate how your projects are impacting your overall experience. Are they adding value or becoming a source of stress? Be honest with yourself and make adjustments as needed.

Step 7: Learn to say “no”

Here’s the hard truth: you can’t do everything. So don’t be afraid to decline opportunities that don’t align with your goals and priorities. It’s okay to prioritize and protect your time and energy. So, what you learned from here is that if I don’t want to do something, I will say no. No matter what!

Remember, it’s all about finding that sweet spot of moderation and balance. Start small, be mindful of your time and energy levels, and adjust the number and scope of your projects as you go along. With some discipline and self-awareness, you can make your side passions enhance your student experience without overwhelming yourself. You’ve got this!

How to stay focused and save time as a student

Don’t underestimate the time. It’s as important as money in your life. It’s very important to save time and money and invest them in the right places. Isn’t it? So, as a student, you can’t afford to be distracted and waste time. Let’s know what thing will work for you :-)

Minimize distractions — how?

It’s simple, buddy! Distraction is just sitting beside you. What is it, haa? It’s your cellphone, buddy…Turn off notifications on your phone, close apps like social media, and mute non-essential tabs. Out of sight is out of mind.

Create a distraction-free environment. Will you?

Study in a space with few visual distractions, like a library or private room. Use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones if needed. Yes, no one is going to provide you with a calm environment. It’s you who have to take steps to minimize the distraction.

Have a plan; I have mine. Do you have yours?

Off course you would have, but you barely followed it, right? Make a checklist or to-do list of tasks for the study session and set priorities. It has one rule: No matter what, don’t miss making your plan every day. And after completing tasks, treat yourself to a small reward. Positive reinforcement motivates you to repeat the behaviour. This gives you a roadmap to stay on track.

Set time limits — Yes

Limit how much time you spend on each task. Set a timer to keep yourself accountable and avoid procrastination.

Take regular breaks — Don’t get vanished

I’m talking about a short break. Study in time chunks (50–75 minutes) and take short breaks (5–15 minutes) in between. This keeps your energy levels up and prevents mental fatigue. Got it?

Avoid multitasking. That’s the truth.

Focus on one task at a time. Multi-tasking divides your attention and leads to poor performance and lower productivity. I have experienced it multiple times, and the result always gets affected. Avoid it, my friend. I will not let you play with your productivity.

Practice mindfulness — It’s for you

Stay present and focus on the task at hand. Avoid daydreaming or thinking about other things. Bring your attention back when you notice it wandering.

Use the “Pomodoro technique” — An effective technique

Study in 25-minute intervals, followed by 5-minute breaks. Do this four times and then take a longer break. This enhances concentration and time management.

Tell others: Ahh! Who is she or he?

Hahaha, well, let friends, classmates, or family know about your goals. Their expectations and support can motivate you.

By implementing these strategies, you can develop the focus and discipline needed to save time and avoid distractions as a student. The key lies in organizing your environment, time, and tasks in a systematic way that supports your productivity and concentration.

Use Apps to Make Yourself More Productivity

1. Todoist or tick tick: To-do list apps like Todoist and tick tick allow you to create organized lists of all your tasks and assign due dates. You can categorize tasks by project, so you can stay on top of everything.

2. Google Calendar: Google Calendar lets you schedule time for academics, personal projects, and free time. You can colour-code events and receive reminders to help you stay on track.

3. Focus timer apps: apps like Flora, Focus Keeper, and Focus To-Do help you stay on task for set periods with the Pomodoro technique. They include break reminders and progress tracking.

4. Trello: Project management software like Trello lets you create boards and lists to organize tasks related to your academic and personal projects. You can assign members, due dates, and attachments.

Visit: Trello

5. RescueTime: This productivity tool runs in the background and tracks where you spend your time. You can set focus times for studying and block distracting apps and websites to improve focus.

6. Visit here — Rescue Time

Using a combination of planners, calendars, task management tools, and productivity tools can provide the structure you need to schedule time efficiently for both academic and personal projects. Experiment with a few different options to find the tools that work best for your specific needs and preferences.

Conclusion

Incorporating personal projects into one’s student life brings numerous benefits if done in moderation. Personal work provides energy, motivation, and practical skills that feed back into and strengthen academic study. But balance is key. Students must assess their availability, set reasonable goals, use tools like calendars or to-do lists, and build in breaks and recharge time to successfully mix personal projects with academics. With discipline and self-awareness, side passions can complement and enrich a student’s learning and growth without becoming overwhelming. The real value lies at the intersection of interests inside and outside the classroom.

Happy Journey, my Chemp…