Finding a balance

Posted by: Chloe Norton - Posted on:

I’m going to be completely honest with you here. I spent my entire weekend on the sofa binge watching Netflix… I’ve watched everything from Riverdale to Mindhunter… I must admit I am a bit of a tv-holic! However, I did the same thing the weekend before that. And the one before that too. And I feel terribly guilty about it!

For some reason, I’ve always been one of these people that just like to read and do everything at the beginning of a module. This is great, but it leaves me with weeks of nothing to do until I realise that my assignment is round the corner, and that I should really get started on it!

Luckily, in my opinion, the graduate scheme is relatively slow paced, though time seems to pass by so quickly! Each module is well structured and thought out, so you can work at your own pace. The modules are also long – approximately 12-14 weeks for the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson programme. I pretty much did all of the reading and online tasks in the first 2-3 weeks of the program, so I had 10 weeks to plan out and prepare my assignment. This left me with plenty of time to pursue some hobbies and interests.

However, I know that everyone has their own way of working, and it is so crucial that you find your balance. If you spend all of your time working, you will eventually ‘burn-out’ and become ill, unmotivated, and exhausted. It is important that one takes their time to ensure they are putting their mental (and physical) wellbeing first. In today’s society, 1 in 5 of us will experience a mental health condition, and in some cases these conditions can be avoided if stress is well managed.

My way of de-stressing, if you couldn’t guess already, is binge watching Netflix programmes or watching documentaries. However, when I don’t have much time to watch TV, or pursue other hobbies, I ensure I squeeze in a bit of time every day to do something I enjoy. For example, I carry around a book with me all the time so if I get the chance to sit down on a bus or tube, I can read for a bit! Are there any strategies you take to make sure you’re not becoming overwhelmed by work? If you don’t have any, I recommend asking friends and family for ways in which you can enjoy some time to yourself. After all, the graduate scheme is all about self-development – in more ways than one!

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