Balancing Your Work and Social Life

I cannot stress enough, the importance of balancing your work and personal life, especially whilst undertaking an internship abroad.

The relief of stress that having your own personal time, outweighs that of any monetary gain you may have from also undertaking a part-time job that coincides with your internship.

This was my original plan when coming to Malta. As I had to pay for this internship myself, I knew that I would need a monthly income in order to support my time here.

So, I scoured the internet in order to find anything that was available and local. There were some bar jobs that were available, however, from previous experience, I have found that the working hours they say you will work, are not normally too accurate and one ends up working a shift much longer than anticipated. So, bar work was pretty much out of the equation.

Next, I looked at waitressing positions at restaurants that would require an English-speaking waitress, as this would make it easier in terms of competition, for me to obtain a job there. I would have no such luck in this case.

So, I decided to let fate take its course and wait to see what jobs would be available when I arrived in Malta, as some companies do not utilise advertising websites to promote their vacant positions.

I arrived in Malta and found a few potential places that could work within my schedule and time frame, whilst also give me a rest-bite after my weekly work shifts. However, once starting my position at the Times of Malta, I knew that I would not be able to sustain a full-time internship, part-time job, social life and visit the places I wanted to. I had many in mind prior to coming to Malta, which would have been jeopardised by pursuing a part-time job.

Another factor one must think of, is if the monetary profit of a part-time is worth the added pressure of your time abroad. I can vouch for the majority here and say that it is not.

I did not take the decision to not work lightly, as this has meant that I have sometimes had to ‘scrape the barrel’ in order to fund the things that I wish to do.

However, I would not have changed the decision for the world. Through having my own personal time on a weekend, I have managed to build strong relationships with my house mates and also enjoy my own personal space.

After a long week at work, the last thing that one needs to add is another stretch of work.

I now appreciate my weekends and evenings much more than what I used to do, as this free time has really allowed me to become more organised for the week ahead and also provide a relief from some of the work week stress.

The balance I now have really works for me. I am able to prepare all of my daily tasks after work such as lunches, washing, tidying and cleaning – which then leaves my weekends entirely free to do as I choose.

Some of the ways I also manage my work life balance is to utilise the practice of yoga. Yoga has been one of the best outlets for me since being in Malta, as the stress relief that it provides has been much greater than what I had anticipated it to be. In addition to this, performing yoga outside has also further aided this stress relief as it means that I am moving away from the confines of my bedroom and into open space. Yoga synchronizes the body and the mind’s stresses and exerts this through the breathing patterns associated with the practice.

Another great way to relieve any work week stress is through the use of relaxing music before bed. I never used to believe in any of this, but since suffering from insomnia quite badly, I have seen the great effects that this has on the brain and body before bed. I have found that I sleep more soundly and only wake up around twice a night, as opposed to the previous four or five times. The music helps to distract the brain which provides a relief from any thoughts or pressures one may be experiencing at that time.

In addition to the singular tasks and practices that one can undertake, there are also things that one can undertake as a group that will help to relieve the work week blues. As a group, a trip to the beach can often have greater relaxation effects than what one may realise. The sounds of the water can be much more beneficial to your relaxation. The sound of the ocean is a white noise, which has been proven to block out distracting sounds, help one feel more relaxed and aid in a better night’s sleep. Granted you can go to the beach by yourself, however, when in a group, the social aspect of such visit can aid with relieving further tension by distracting the brain from work related issues.

Taking in cultural and heritage has also been found to give added benefits to mind stresses and pressures. One place that I love to do so, is at a museum. These quiet environments allow for a personal reflective space, which will help for one to become more immersed into the exhibitions on offer.

All of these elements have contributed to the relief of stress during the week and enabling me to maintain a solidified work / life balance during my time here in Malta.