Many students at Kirkwood Community College can experience the pressure of earning money alongside the added weight of homework.
Sacrifices to personal enjoyment are often made in pursuit of academic or financial gain.
However, overworking can come with dangerous side effects. According to a 2025 study from La Salle University, around 48% of college students were classified as experiencing burnout, a psychological state that is “characterized by emotional tiredness, detachment or cynicism toward academic responsibilities and a reduced feeling of one’s academic efficacy.”
This is an unfortunately frequent and perhaps even expected aspect of the college experience, but there is one common solution generally provided by internet searches and academic institutions. An article from the University of Georgia Online Learning states that students should schedule breaks for themselves throughout the week. Allow yourself to have time where you can truly rest and do things you enjoy.
This is where the concept of having a strong work-life balance forms. You commit to assignments and work, but you should not overcommit. Why is this such a difficult tightrope? I believe it comes down to two key things: procrastination and motive.
Procrastination has always been around due to factors such as “analysis paralysis,” which can make it difficult to begin working on something due to the brainpower being used to decide how to approach a problem or activity.
However, new factors have also popped up that make procrastination all the more frequent, such as doomscrolling. A 2025 study from Walailak University claims that 61% of university students spend over eight hours per day on their cellphones. The alluring design of social media can siphon away valuable time from work and life.
Motive is much simpler in nature; it’s what students believe they want out of college. Most students go to college to succeed in future academic and employment endeavors rather than for enjoyment. This focus on the future can make it difficult for one to simply enjoy the moment.
Is there a solution for successfully achieving a perfect work-life balance? It depends on your situation. If procrastination is an issue, perhaps a screen time limit on certain apps would be to your benefit. Giving yourself at least one day free from work can be beneficial as long as you’re willing to work hard on other days of the week.
Categories: Opinion
