Starting an internship in a new city is an exciting and enriching experience, but balancing work, social life, and exploring your surroundings can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to feel torn between wanting to excel in your professional role, relaxing after work, and making the most of your time outside of work. The fear of missing out on social opportunities while striving to stay productive is a common challenge for many interns and young professionals. So, how do you find the right work-life balance? The key lies in managing your time wisely, setting priorities, and understanding that self-care is just as important as networking and career growth.
Let’s explore practical tips to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance while making the most of your experience.
How to have a good work-life balance:
1. Keep work and life separate.
It's important to keep your work and personal life separate, as your attention will be more focused. When you're out with friends or meeting up on the weekends, don’t obsess over your work emails and check work messages. Make sure that you enjoy yourself during your free time!
Setting yourself time to socialize will give you something to look forward to during the week, and you will be happier if you invest yourself in these activities without worrying about work.
Top tip: When socializing, try to limit conversations about work. It’s great to discuss what you're doing, but make sure you don’t exclude anyone from the conversation. Instead, pick a topic that everyone can contribute to and feels comfortable talking about.
2. Be efficient at work.
The social calendar is usually busier near the end of the week, so try to get work out of the way early on. Many get more restless as the week goes on, so it's best to work on bigger projects and tasks at the beginning of the week. Studies show that if you start the week feeling motivated and productive, this feeling will carry through the week. This way, you won't end the day overburdened and overworked, and will thus have more energy to go out in the evenings. You can also try to get to work early to give yourself more time to get everything done and avoid staying late or working through lunch. That said, don’t overwork yourself, as you will also want to make the most of weekend activities. In addition, don’t feel guilty for going out on a weekday evening, but do ensure you set yourself realistic goals to complete the next day.
3. Don’t be afraid to say no.
If you feel like you’re in over your head, don’t be afraid to say something. If your boss or colleague is giving you too much work and asking for too much, speak up. Often they won't be thinking about how many tasks they are giving you, and it's your job to manage your time and tell them if their expectations are unrealistic. It is completely understandable and acceptable to speak to your boss if you feel overwhelmed with work. The same applies to your social life. Don’t feel pressured to say ‘yes’ to everything. If you're tired and would rather stay in, or if you’d prefer to stay in the city instead of taking a day trip, do so. You will only be unhappy and annoyed if you force yourself to follow the masses. It’s ok to take a time-out once in a while.
4. Be flexible.
While it may be easy to draw up a timeline and plan for work, it's harder to plan a social life. You and your friends may spontaneously go out for dinner or explore a new part of the city. Alternatively, your friends could have a different schedule to you, and may not always be free when you are. Moreover, plans could get canceled at the last minute, so it’s important to learn how to be flexible. Don’t expect things to work out as planned all of the time; in fact, it’s fun to be more spontaneous! You could even combine activities planned with different friends and go out as a bigger group. It’s also worth compromising in some situations. Don’t be too stubborn about the things that you want to do. Accept other people’s opinions, and offer a compromise if you clash. You are all here to make friends and explore the city after all!
5. Set your own expectations.
Traveling abroad often includes many expectations: friends and family offering tips, online websites telling you what you must visit, and movies portraying glamorous scenarios. However, your time abroad is what you make it. Set your own expectations of what you want to do and see. Don’t feel disappointed or let down if you don’t manage to do everything. Remember that your internship experience is likely to be different from one you would have in your home country. Don’t expect things to be the same, and try to adapt to your new surroundings. Traveling is often overhyped; it’s okay to stay at home all day if you feel down, and equally, it’s completely fine if you spend every spare moment visiting somewhere new. The important thing is that you enjoy yourself and your experience abroad.
If you have a list of things you want to do or see, prioritize them to avoid major disappointments while you're abroad.