Finding Balance: How EPM Students Manage Graduate School, Work, and Life

Every Week Looks Different, But Planning Makes All the Difference

Each student's weekly routine reflects the unique demands of both graduate school and their professional role. While no two schedules look exactly alike, thoughtful planning helps each make time for work, classes, and life outside both.

Marisa works approximately 20 hours each week as a Policy Associate with the Planning and Conservation League,  while taking three to four graduate courses, intentionally separating her workdays from class days to stay focused. Kiri structures her week around two days of classes and three days working with the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, balancing her commute between Davis and Sacramento. Kulsum divides her week between coursework and her internship at Stantec, making space for commuting and connecting with classmates between classes. Faith balances four graduate classes, a 25-hour internship at the State Water Resources Control Board, and performs as “the lead vocalist for a local Davis band, [where she] spends a handful of hours practicing new music and performing all around Davis!" Despite their different responsibilities, each student has found a routine that helps them stay productive while making room for the things they enjoy.

Balance Starts with Taking Care of Yourself

When asked how they maintain balance throughout the day, each student described intentionally making time for themselves in different ways.

For Marisa, balance comes from mentally separating work from school and giving herself permission to unplug during the weekend. Kiri prioritizes self-care by taking longer showers, watching a favorite show, treating herself to coffee, and making time to connect with family and friends. Faith relies on her paper planner and phone reminders to keep track of everything on her schedule, helping reduce stress before it builds up.

Kulsum states, “It can be easy to get wrapped up in everything that needs to be done, so I make sure to take small breaks throughout the day. I also block out time for meal prep so I can eat healthy meals and take care of myself.  Whenever I do this, it is easier to stay focused and put my best foot forward.” 

Although their approaches vary, each student emphasized that caring for themselves isn't a distraction from productivity; it's what allows them to continue showing up fully in school, at work, and in their personal lives.

Sometimes the Best Reset Is Stepping Away

No matter how organized their schedules are, every student experiences moments of feeling overwhelmed. Their advice? Step away from the screen and spend time doing something that helps you recharge.

Marisa finds relief by walking or running along the greenbelt before unwinding with cooking and music. Kulsum enjoys taking long walks through the UC Davis Arboretum or going to the gym, explaining that anything that gets her moving helps clear her mind. For Faith, music serves as both a creative outlet and a source of relaxation, whether she's listening while studying or performing with her band.

Kiri states, “Having a no-screen hobby to turn to has been really helpful. Being able to disconnect and slow down helps me remember what is important and refocus my energy when I start tackling schoolwork again. This past year, I’ve learned to knit and crochet, and I hope to learn how to paint!”

Despite their different interests, each student pointed to the same lesson: making time for activities outside of school and work can make returning to those responsibilities feel much more manageable.

Small Habits Make a Big Difference

One of the biggest takeaways from these conversations was that maintaining balance often comes down to small, consistent habits rather than major lifestyle changes.

Marisa states, “One small habit that has saved me from freaking out on busy mornings is having a consistent night routine. I’ll make sure to have my lunch prepared, coffee maker ready, clothes picked out, and laptop charged before I go to bed. These small steps make the morning much smoother and allow me to focus on mentally preparing for the day!” Kiri writes everything down, using detailed notes and color-coding to stay organized across classes and work projects. Kulsum keeps a running to-do list so deadlines don't become overwhelming, while Faith practices habit stacking by pairing everyday tasks together, like listening to the news while doing household chores.

Although each habit is different, they all serve the same purpose: reducing stress, staying organized, and making busy weeks feel a little more manageable. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Working while pursuing a graduate degree has given each student the opportunity to strengthen both their professional and academic experiences. Rather than viewing work and school as separate commitments, each student described how the two continually strengthen one another.

Marisa brings firsthand experience with environmental policy and legislation into classroom discussions, helping her think more critically about policy solutions. Marisa states, “Having real-world experience has been extremely helpful in bringing a new perspective to class material. Understanding the process for getting policies enacted in today’s political world has shown me the importance of compromise while standing our ground on our priorities. Bringing this insight into class discussions and assignments has helped me think more critically about new approaches to achieving our environmental goals.”

 Kiri regularly connects concepts from classes, such as environmental justice and mapping, directly to her work supporting California's climate planning efforts. Kiri adds, “Working while doing school has been really helpful. Experiences from work provide content to connect with course topics and work through how those could be applied to the projects I work on. I am able to take what I learn in class back to my work. For example, in our Governing for Environmental Justice & Equity class, one of the topics for a week was data and mapping. The assigned readings were very relevant to my work, and while reading them, I was able to consider the paper’s key points as an application to my work.”

Kulsum has applied lessons from coursework on public engagement to groundwater sustainability projects, drawing on her internship experience to better understand topics discussed in class. Kulsum shares, “So far, both my professional experience and coursework have shaped one another. Through my internship, I have applied what I have learned about effective public engagement in core courses to my professional work. At the same time, my internship has provided tangible examples that help me connect topics such as SGMA compliance to real-world situations.”

Faith's work at the State Water Resources Control Board provides real-world examples that deepen her understanding of environmental policy and allow her to contribute a unique perspective in class discussions. Faith elaborates, “My professional experience shapes what I’m learning in class, as I now understand the scientific processes that lead to the proposal of different bills and regulations. I’m able to share my newfound knowledge with my peers and bring a unique perspective I’ve acquired through my work at the State Water Board. On the other hand, my experience as a current graduate student also shapes my contributions to my professional work, as it allows me to approach topics from a different perspective than my colleagues who may have been in the workforce for much longer.” 

Finding What Works for You

There isn't a single blueprint for achieving work-life balance in graduate school, and these students prove that. Whether it's Marisa's structured schedule, Kiri's commitment to self-care, Kulsum's focus on movement and organization, or Faith's creative outlet through music, each has developed routines that fit their own life and goals.

Their stories show that balance doesn't mean having fewer responsibilities; it means finding sustainable ways to manage them. Through planning ahead, making time for themselves, building small daily habits, and connecting their classroom learning with meaningful professional experiences, these EPM students demonstrate that success isn't about doing everything at once. It's about finding a rhythm that works for you and making space for both growth and well-being.