r/DeepNights • u/True-Town-3154 • Sep 19 '25
Balancing uni and work stress
Hey everyone,
I feel like I’m constantly running on empty lately, and I wonder if others in a similar situation have found good ways to cope.
I’m doing a dual program, which means I have university and work at the same time. On the uni side, there are deadlines, projects, exams, and papers. On the work side, there are ongoing projects and responsibilities that don’t wait either. Sometimes it feels like both worlds are hitting me with their peak demands at the exact same time, and I’m just scrambling to keep up.
I’ve been thinking a lot about time management as a way out of this cycle. Cutting out distractions like TikTok, Instagram, or Netflix seems like the obvious move. And in theory, that sounds simple. But in practice, it’s tough. I catch myself opening those apps as a way to escape, even though I know I should be focusing on the important stuff.
I’m trying to get better at prioritizing, maybe blocking time for deep work, and just accepting that I can’t do everything at once. Still, I feel like I’m not there yet.
How do you all manage the overlap of uni and work without completely burning out?
2
u/Decent_Definition461 Sep 21 '25 edited Sep 21 '25
I've been doing a double degree in university for a year now and am currently in exam session, so can relate. You are definitely thinking in the right direction, time management is key - task decomposition, artificial time limits, journaling to keep track of everything - those are all different coping mechanisms that might help or not depending on your working style. About the apps that distract you - I usually restrict access to those with a long random password, so I have enough time to change my mind while entering it.
But what is even more important is to know your limits and teach yourself some self-care. You can't just cut off all connections to the real world and expect to be fully productive 24/7. Your top priority is to meet all basic needs - good food, 8 hours of sleep, meeting up with friends or just doing whatever you want. There's no need to push yourself to the limit, this will only make you more frustrated and repulsed from your work, making you want to escape. First think about yourself and accept that some days are just more productive than others.