A placement year is a great opportunity to gain practical work experience, build your CV, and explore potential career paths. However, balancing a full-time role with personal life and university commitments can be challenging. During my placement year, I worked as a Programme Support Coordinator at SEO London and realised the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Here are a few things I learnt.

1. Setting Clear Boundaries

When I started working, I wanted to impress my team, and often answered emails or worked through my lunch breaks. While enthusiasm is great, I realised this wasn’t sustainable. Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal time helped me recharge and avoid burnout. I began scheduling work hours and sticking to them. Once the workday ended, I consciously stepped away from my laptop and focused on my hobbies (reading, going on walks) or spending time with friends and family.

2. Prioritising Self-Care

Self-care might sound cliché, but it’s crucial during a busy placement year. This meant exercising regularly, doing things I enjoyed, and catching up on sleep. Even simple things like taking a short walk during lunch or listening to music on my commute helped me stay grounded. I also found that talking to my manager about workload expectations made a big difference. They were understanding and helped me manage priorities when things felt overwhelming.

3. Staying Connected to Your Goals

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily demands of a placement, but being aware of why I took the placement in the first place kept me motivated. I regularly reflected on my developing skills and how they aligned with my long-term goals. For example, when a project at work became stressful, I reminded myself of how it was helping me build teamwork or project management skills, which will benefit me beyond university.

Overall Thoughts

A placement year is as much about learning, as it is about working. Maintaining a good work-life balance allowed me to enjoy the experience professionally and personally. If you are starting a placement, remember that your well-being is more important than meeting deadlines. Setting boundaries, practising self-care, and staying focused on your goals can help you succeed in and outside work.

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Big thanks to Sumyia Islam, one of our BA Business Management students, for writing this article!

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