Studying is stressful. For some students it can be tempting to spend every minute of the day studying, which often leads to burnout and a negative impact on their overall grades. Don’t let this be you. It’s so important to achieve a study-life balance in order to maximise efficiency, and it could be easier than you think.

Plan and set goals
Organisation is essential. Plan out and set goals for your study sessions whilst scheduling in time for relaxation; you’ll be able to enjoy a break knowing you’ve got your work done. Having a structured day is really helpful when studying. It provides you with direction and means you’ll be less likely to procrastinate as you’ve given yourself a goal which you should be motivated to achieve. Be realistic though because you can only achieve so much in one day. Remember to maintain a healthy lifestyle, too – make time to exercise, eat a balanced diet and stick to a sensible sleep schedule.

Taking productive breaks is an extremely valuable thing to do. Working for hours on end without some time out will lead to you feeling demotivated with a lack of focus, as our brains switch off after a while. It’s good to take a break every hour or hour and a half. It will lead to you feeling refreshed, allowing you to have a higher level of productivity, energy and concentration. It’s important that you’re disciplined with your breaks however, sticking to about 15 or 20 minutes in length, with a longer break every few hours.

During your breaks, focus on completely switching off and relaxing for a bit in a way that works for you. This could be going for a walk in the fresh air, meditation or reading a book. Spending time on social media is fine, just be careful to keep an eye on how long you’ve been scrolling for.

Maintain a healthy attitude towards studying
Spending time with your family and friends and carrying on doing the things you’re passionate about will also help you maintain a healthy attitude towards studying. It will reduce your stress levels and help you avoid reaching burnout, leaving you with a positive mindset. Not having anything to think about apart from your next study session is just not good for you; being able to look forward to something in both the long and short term is so beneficial. Thinking about the holiday you’ll have after exams or the TV show you’re going to watch after your last study session that day, for example, will motivate you to keep going.

With studying, it’s great to try and reach a happy medium between too much and too little. Being able to recognise when you need a break and allowing yourself to switch off whilst still being organised and driven by goals is something every student should aim for. It’s likely that your grades will reap the benefits.