How to balance academic and personal life as an international student in Finland pt.2

In this blog, I’ll cover some more ideas to balance your academic and personal life as an international student in Finland. This is the pt.2 of my previous blog.

Maintain a Healthy Social Life

Maintaining a healthy social life is an essential aspect of balancing academic and personal life. Finland is a welcoming country with friendly people, and there are many opportunities to make new friends and socialize. Here are a few tips:

• Attend social events: Universities in Finland regularly host social events such as parties, cultural events, and festivals. Attend these events to meet new people and explore Finnish culture.
• Join study groups: Study groups are an excellent way to meet other students who are studying similar subjects. They provide an opportunity to work collaboratively, share ideas, and offer support.
• Connect with other international students: International students face similar challenges when studying abroad, so connecting with other international students can be a great way to share experiences and support one another.

Manage Your Finances

Managing your finances is an essential aspect of balancing academic and personal life as an international student in Finland. Here are a few tips:

• Create a budget: Creating a budget can help you stay on top of your finances and avoid overspending. Be sure to include all of your expenses, including tuition fees, housing, food, transportation, and entertainment.
• Look for student discounts: Many businesses in Finland offer student discounts, so be sure to take advantage of them whenever possible. You can find information about student discounts on your university's website or by asking at the student services office.
• Consider part-time work: If you need to earn extra money, consider looking for part-time work on or off-campus. Many universities in Finland offer part-time job opportunities for students.

Embrace Finnish Culture

Embracing Finnish culture is an essential aspect of the international student experience in Finland. Here are a few ways to do this:

• Learn the language: Learning Finnish is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Finnish culture and make new friends. Many universities in Finland offer Finnish language courses for international students.
• Explore Finnish cuisine: Finnish cuisine is unique and delicious. Be sure to try traditional Finnish dishes such as meatballs, salmon soup, and Karelian pies.
• Learn about Finnish customs: Finland has many unique customs and traditions, such as sauna bathing and celebrating Midsummer. Learning about these customs can help you feel more connected to Finnish culture.

Stay Active

Staying active is an essential aspect of maintaining balance and well-being as an international student. Here are a few tips:

• Join a sports club: Many universities in Finland have sports clubs where you can participate in various sports and physical activities. Joining a sports club can help you stay active, make new friends, and relieve stress.
• Take advantage of outdoor activities: Finland is a beautiful country with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and cycling. Take advantage of these activities to stay active and explore the country.
• Use your university's gym: Most universities in Finland have a gym or fitness center that is free or available at a discounted rate for students. Use the gym to stay active and healthy.

Set Realistic Goals

Setting realistic goals can help you stay motivated and focused while balancing academic and personal life. Here are a few tips:

• Break tasks into smaller chunks: Large tasks can be overwhelming, but breaking them into smaller, manageable tasks can help you make progress and feel accomplished.
• Prioritize tasks: Prioritizing tasks can help you focus on what is most important and avoid wasting time on less important tasks.
• Celebrate your accomplishments: Celebrating your accomplishments, no matter how small, can help you stay motivated and positive.

Take Advantage of Support Services

Most universities in Finland offer a range of support services for international students, including academic support, counseling, and health services. Here are a few tips:

• Attend study skills workshops: Many universities offer study skills workshops that can help you improve your academic performance and time management skills.
• Use counseling services: Studying abroad can be stressful, and counseling services can help you cope with any challenges you may face.
• Access health services: Taking care of your physical health is essential for maintaining balance and well-being. Be sure to access any health services offered by your university.

Be Flexible

Finally, it is important to be flexible and adaptable while balancing academic and personal life as an international student in Finland. Here are a few tips:

• Be open to change: Studying abroad can be unpredictable, and things may not always go as planned. Be open to change and willing to adjust your plans as needed.
• Be willing to try new things: Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to try new things and step outside your comfort zone. Embrace new experiences and be willing to try new things.
• Be patient: Adjusting to a new culture and environment takes time. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to adjust.

In conclusion, balancing academic and personal life as an international student in Finland requires prioritizing and planning, using your time wisely, engaging in extracurricular activities, taking breaks and practicing self-care, seeking help and support, maintaining a healthy social life, managing your finances, embracing Finnish culture, staying active, setting realistic goals, taking advantage of support services, and being flexible. By following these tips, you can achieve balance and make the most of your time in Finland.

- San