By Mettou Diouf
Don’t let your job consume your life this summer!
The McMaster Work Program hires more than 1,250 students in over 100 departments and offices across the University. Students typically work part- or full-time (up to 35–40 hours per week) during the summer, then drop down to part-time (up to 10 hours per week) during the fall and winter semesters. But what does it really look like to be a student working a full-time summer job?
To learn more about work-life balance over the summer, I interviewed two full-time Program Support Assistants, Harliv and Amelie. Harliv says, “Work-life balance to me means having defined boundaries. When I am at work, I only focus on work, putting my phone on Do Not Disturb, so I do not get distracted by messages or calls. When I am off work, I try my best not to think about it and leave my work in the office.” Research found that individuals working less than 20 hours per week experience a better work-life balance than those working 20–34 hours per week (Kelliher et al., 2019).
Tip: Communicate with your environment (i.e., friends, family, co-workers, and employers) about your boundaries between work and personal life.
According to the Harvard Business Review, overworking and hustle culture have become a badge of honour (Harvard Business Review, 2024). Amelie emphasized the importance of balancing work in her life: “For my well-being, work-life balance is important because it is important to have responsibilities, routine, and a sense of purpose, as well as time for yourself to do what you love and care for yourself.” People often have many commitments outside of work, such as education, hobbies, exercise, and community activities. Long working hours reduce time for personal goals, family, and leisure time, making it difficult to achieve a healthy balance and separation (Bhende et al., 2020).
For remote workers, Kelliher et al. (2019) points out that while remote work can allow for flexibility, it can also make it more difficult to separate work and personal life, increasing the need for intentional scheduling and boundary-setting. Furthermore, full-time work often limits flexibility and requires people to be more mindful of how they spend their free time. Harliv explained, “My weekdays are mostly consumed by work, and weekends are the only days when I can realistically make plans, so trying to do everything in those 2 days becomes difficult.”
Tip: De-normalize working longer hours. Take a step back to feel your emotions and think about aspects of your personal life. Don’t feel guilty for prioritizing rest over work! (Harvard Business Review, 2024)
Do you find it difficult to balance work with rest, hobbies, or time with friends and family? There is only so much one can do before and after working 8 hours. Amelie explains that “Yes. Specifically, friends and family. Working full time means there’s no real flexibility during the weekdays to spend time during the day socializing. A lot of my schedule conflicts with my friends, making it hard to hang out. I also do think it is hard to have time for hobbies because after 9-5, I go to the gym, then cook, and then it’s already 9pm and time for bed. Balancing social activities, personal responsibilities, and rest within a limited amount of free time during the summer.”
Tip: Consider personal activities and self-care as appointments that are just as important as work commitments (Kelliher et al., 2019). You should also understand the value of allocating specific time for exercise, rest, and maintaining your health. These are important aspects of a healthy work-life balance and should be respected, just as much as work responsibilities.
Scrolling through social media feeds and seeing strangers who appear to have “perfect” lives and routines, can make it feel like they somehow have more than 24 hours in a day. Social media has influenced how people view their summers, with Instagram and TikTok often presenting an unrealistic version of summer that focuses on travel, partying, free time, and constant socializing. This can set unrealistic expectations for students who spend much of their summer working.
Amelie explained that social media has influenced how she views what her summer should look like, “It is really depressing to be working at a desk 9–5 every day when people online are posting pictures of the sun and grass. Seeing people post about being on a beach on a random Tuesday makes me jealous. I feel like I should go out every day and enjoy my youth. I feel like I am wasting my youth.” Harliv had a somewhat different perspective: “I think to a certain extent it has [influenced how I view my summer]. According to social media, my summer should be filled with international holidays and going to bars and clubs with friends. However, it is important to know that everyone has different definitions of fun, and you do not have to follow societal expectations. Social media also makes 9–5 jobs sound terrible, but in my experience, it has been great, and I would not mind doing this for my career.”
Remember, social media does not show the full story. Everything is planned, set up and curated. Having ups and downs in a week is normal. Comparison is the thief of joy!
Amelie says to “make sure to enjoy your youth; take some time off work to do something exciting! Make the most of your lunch breaks! If you can, go on a walk or sit outside. I find leaving the workplace for lunch really helps with the existential work dread.”
Harliv recommends, “leaving work at the office and life at home; forget about the other when you are at one.”
Personally, I suggest calling or inviting friends and family over while doing chores such as laundry, washing dishes, or cooking. Not only are you socializing and maintaining your relationships, but you are also getting tasks done. It’s a win-win situation!
In conclusion, it can be challenging to establish boundaries between work and personal life when working full-time over the summer, especially with social media setting unrealistic expectations of how the summer should be spent. However, if you prioritize your personal well-being, set firm boundaries, and remember that there is no one right way to spend your summer, you can achieve a healthier and more fulfilling work-life balance.
Mactivate Your Mind, Body, & Spirit:
In partnership with Athletics & Recreation and the SWC, this program provides McMaster students with opportunities to engage in regular physical activity, with the goal of supporting overall mental health and well-being.
https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/program/mactivate-your-mind-body-spirit/
Drop-in Group Classes at the Pulse: Free for McMaster undergraduate and graduate students!
The Pulse Fitness Centre | Athletics & Recreation | McMaster University
Intramural or Recreational Sports:
Join an intramural or recreational sports team to stay active, have fun, and connect with others through regular weekly participation.
https://active.mcmaster.ca/recreation/intramural-sports/#tab-20
McMaster Community Garden drop-in hours: Full schedules will be shared on Instagram via @mcmastercommunitygarden and @mcmasterswc.
For more information, please contact Sierra at gasparis@mcmaster.ca.
Looking for ways to support your work-life balance and stay connected on campus? Visit our programs page to explore current offerings or drop by the Wellness Lounge (PGCLL 201) to relax, take a break, and enjoy creative activities.
Hamilton Community Gardens (The Neighbour-to-Neighbour Centre):
Serves as a hub for community gardening, where shared garden spaces bring people together to strengthen community connections, support the local environment, and promote wellness.
https://www.n2ncentre.com/neighbour-to-neighbours-community-food-centre/community-garden-networking-program/
Hamilton Public Library Events:
Offers weekly community programs that provide opportunities to connect with the community, such as knitting, crocheting, and nature-based activities.
https://events.hpl.ca/events?r=thismonth
Hamilton Nature:
A list of trails is available for walking, cycling, or running, whether alone or with friends, offering an accessible way to stay active and spend time outdoors.
https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/parks-green-space/parks-trails/trails-listing
References
Bhende, P., Mekoth, N., Ingalhalli, V., & Reddy, Y. V. (2020). Quality of Work Life and Work–Life Balance. Journal of Human Values, 26(3), 256–265. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685820939380
Harvard Business Review., Mortensen, A., & Harvard Business Review Press, issuing body. (2024). Boundaries, priorities, and finding work-life balance [Broadcast]. Ascent Audio.
Kelliher, C., Richardson, J., & Boiarintseva, G. (2019). All of work? All of life? Reconceptualising work‐life balance for the 21st century. Human Resource Management Journal, 29(2), 97–112. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12215