How I balanced my studies, work and social life

By Esha Tibrewal, a recent Master of Laws (LLM) student. Published 8 December 2025.

When I moved to London for my LLM in International Business Law, I had this vision of being super organised: acing my coursework, working part-time, exploring the city and still managing to have a social life. The reality? It was chaotic at first. But over time, I found my rhythm through planning, self-discipline and a few digital tools that became lifesavers. If you’re a student trying to juggle academics, work and your personal life, I hope this helps you find your balance too.

Plan Your Week Ahead

The biggest game-changer for me was time blocking. Every Sunday evening I’d sit down and map out the upcoming week. My weekly plan included:

• Lecture times and study slots
• Work hours or freelance gigs
• Personal commitments or social plans
• Breaks and buffer time for when life throws surprises.

Organisational tools I used:

• Google Calendar – For time blocking and reminders
• Notion – To manage tasks, track deadlines and brain-dump ideas
• Forest App – To stay focused during study sessions
• Toggl – To monitor how I actually spent my time versus how I planned to.

Having a visual layout of my week helped me stop overcommitting and gave me the space to say “yes” or “no” with clarity.

Set priorities (and regularly reassess them)

There will be weeks when an essay deadline takes precedence over everything else, and others when you can afford to go out and unwind. I ranked my daily tasks:

• Must do today
• Should do this week
• Can wait until next week.

I stopped chasing perfection and started focusing on progress. Some days, that meant writing just 200 words instead of a full draft and that was still a win.

Smart Studying

It’s not how long you study for, but how you study that matters. I adopted the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of focused work followed by a five minute break), and it drastically improved my concentration. I’d usually plan two or three of these cycles in the morning and keep evenings for review or lighter reading.

Bonus tips:

• Try using Quizlet or Anki for quick revision.
• Record your voice while summarising notes and listen to them during commutes.

Work that works for you

As an international student I needed a part-time job, but I knew it couldn’t come at the cost of my academic performance. I looked for roles that:

• Offered flexible hours
• Related to my interests (legal research, writing or design)
• Allowed remote work.

I also made sure to communicate my availability clearly and didn’t hesitate to say no when I felt overbooked.

Make time for life beyond deadlines

Rest is productive. Being constantly busy doesn’t mean being efficient. I began scheduling intentional downtime, like going for a walk in Hyde Park, binge-watching a comfort show or attending a student event.

I also joined a few university societies which helped me meet new people and feel more connected without overwhelming my schedule.

Be kind to yourself

When I felt things slipping, such as missed deadlines, skipped meals or mental exhaustion, I knew it was time to pause. I used simple weekly self-check-ins:

• Am I sleeping enough?
• Am I feeling anxious or overworked?
• When did I last do something for me?

I also reminded myself that it’s okay to ask for help. whether it was from a friend, a mentor or the University’s Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Final thoughts

Balancing your studies with work and a social life isn’t about being perfect. It’s about knowing what matters most in each season and creating a structure that supports you, not stresses you out.

If you're about to begin your university journey, know this: it’s okay to adjust your pace. There’s no “right way” to do university, there’s only “your” way.

This article was originally posted on our UniBuddy page. If you have questions about our courses, campuses or life at The University of Law, chat with a current student today.