Nadia Izzanee is a fourth-year Digital Media student minoring in Professional Writing. As a storyteller, she explores global youth cultures, diaspora and amplifying marginalized voices in her academic work and through creative projects.
Being a Work/Study student feels like living in three worlds at once. There’s the academic grind of lectures and assignments; the responsibility of showing up at work; and the social lull of friends, hobbies and downtime. It’s a lot—but I’ve learned that balance isn’t about perfection. It’s about finding a rhythm that works for you and knowing when to lean into one world and when to step back so you don’t burn out.
Balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly—it’s about ensuring the things that matter most don’t get lost in the sauce."
My planner hack
I swear by keeping both a physical planner and a digital one. The digital planner keeps me synced across all devices, but the physical planner is where I map out my week in colourful pens and stickers. Writing things down makes deadlines feel real, and I set mine a few days early to avoid last-minute panic and keep the quality strong.
I even schedule downtime—museum trips, dates or new recipes. It may not seem ideal to plan fun, but it helps me look forward to things and ensures I meet my commitments without sacrificing my well-being.
Prioritizing work the smart way
Another rule I live by is individual work first and collaborative work second. When I’ve handled my own tasks, I can wholly immerse myself into group projects without feeling stretched thin. It’s a way of respecting both my time and my teammates’ time. It keeps me sharp for career growth, since employers value people who can balance independence with collaboration.
Career well-being isn’t just about grades or paycheques—it’s about the delight in contributing, exploring creativity and connection.
I don’t give up my love for crafting, thrifting with my friends, or playing my favorite games. Those hobbies recharge me. Coming home with enough energy to try out new dishes feels like proof that my system works.
Well-being reminders
It may sound obvious, but career well-being thrives on small habits. Keep a drink nearby to stay hydrated, take a walk to stretch out your limbs and if you’re working solo, find someone to talk to during breaks. These little resets steady your energy, keeps your focus sharp and prevents that annoying headache!
At the end of the day, career well-being isn’t about choosing one world over the other—it’s learning how to balance them. The planners, early deadlines, me-first strategy and well-being reminders all add up to a routine that protects both your work and energy. It means showing up for work and study without losing sight of the delight that hobbies and friends bring.
When you make room for balance in your life, you don’t just survive the juggling act—you thrive with enough energy to keep discovering and creating.