Balancing Act: How One Part-Time Master's Student Manages It All

Balancing work, study, and personal life is no small task, but Darshiny, a part-time Master's student, has found success through a well-structured routine, flexibility, and effective use of resources. Her day starts at 6 am with meal prep before logging into work, fitting in study sessions during lunch breaks and evenings, while reserving Fridays for family time and rest to avoid burnout. By using tools like Google Calendar, accessing free university databases, and attending academic workshops, she stays organised and motivated. Darshiny's approach shows that with planning, support, and self-care, it’s possible to manage multiple responsibilities and still thrive.

How do you balance work, study, and personal life effectively?

I manage work, study, and my personal life by sticking to a routine that works for me. I usually start my day early at 6am. I cook for the day (lunch and dinner) and begin work by 8:30am. During my lunch break, I take time to go through reading materials for upcoming lectures, then continue with work.

After finishing work around 5 pm, I take an hour’s break to do house chores and spend some time watching tv. Setting aside specific time at night for assignments and extra reading helps me stay on track and feel accomplished.

I also make sure to take breaks from doing anything related to my course/assignments, usually on Fridays to avoid burnout. That’s when I focus more on spending time with family and friends. I think the key is having a routine but also being flexible when needed.

What study techniques or habits have helped you stay on track with assignments and exams?

Stay on top of your reading materials, and don’t wait until you start your assignment to go back to Lecture 1. 

Make full use of the resources the University offers. For example, Statista is excellent for finding secondary data, which is often needed for essays and assignments. Normally, you’d have to pay to access most of their reports, but with your @essex.ac.uk email, you get full access for free. It’s a real advantage, especially since essays make up a big part of assessments in many modules.

There are plenty of other tools and databases you can access for free as a student, so it’s worth visiting the Library website to explore what’s available.

Also, consider joining the Skills for Success workshops. I personally found the academic writing sessions helpful, especially as a mature student who’s been out of university for a while. They helped me refresh my writing skills and feel more confident when approaching assignments.

How do you manage your time efficiently, especially when juggling deadlines?

For me, it’s all about allocating time and sticking to it consistently. I review my schedule each week to plan for the following one. This helps me reallocate time and adjust priorities based on upcoming deadlines. Staying organised like this makes it easier to manage everything without feeling overwhelmed.

What tools or resources do you use to stay organised and productive?

I rely on a few simple tools to stay organised and productive. Google Calendar helps me plan my week and set reminders for deadlines, meetings, and personal tasks. It gives me a clear view of my time outside of working hours and helps avoid overbooking.

For assignments, I use Google Docs since it saves automatically, and I can access it from any device. I also keep my assignments organised in Google Drive, with separate folders for each module, so everything’s easy to find and neatly arranged.

How do you stay motivated and avoid burnout while managing multiple responsibilities?

I make sure to include time with family and friends every week. It helps me stay grounded and balanced. Cooking is also therapeutic for me. On weekends, I enjoy preparing more elaborate meals, and I find the process really calming.

It keeps me motivated because it’s something I genuinely look forward to. I start my mornings by cooking, which sets a positive tone for the rest of the day and helps me stay happy and energised.

What advice would you give to someone considering a part-time master’s program?

• Communicate with your family/partner – Let them know how important this journey is to you. Their support can make a significant difference.
• Set strict study time, stick to a schedule to keep up with weekly readings and coursework. Leaving everything to the last minute can be overwhelming.
• Utilise skills workshops – Workshops, especially the academic writing sessions, are incredibly helpful, particularly if you haven’t written essays in a long time like me.
• Attend academic support hours – Use this time to clarify doubts and get direct feedback from academics on your work. This is especially useful when starting or midway through your assignment to ensure you're on the right track. Sometimes, our understanding of the requirements may differ, possibly due to cultural differences, so it’s best to seek clarification early to avoid spending time on the wrong approach.

What are your plans for graduation?

Now, I have a strong desire to deepen my knowledge in management and marketing, which I believe will support my current role. I don’t have a specific plan for after graduation, as I genuinely enjoy my current job. However, if an opportunity arises, I would love to apply for a student recruitment managerial role, as I believe my expertise, combined with my current degree, would make me a strong fit for the position.