How I Balance Casual Work, Doctorate Studies, and Still Keep My Weekends

I’ve seen a lot of online queries lately asking how people manage working part-time (or casually) while completing a PhD – and still have time for themselves. I thought it might be helpful to share what’s worked for me in one place.

Let’s be real: juggling academic work, a thesis, and a life isn’t easy. Here are some practical things that helped me stay sane(ish) and protect my weekends:

Containerised Browsing + Email Boundaries

I do a lot of casual academic teaching, which means I get emails at all hours from multiple employers and students. One of the best things I did was to use browser containers and schedule blocks to turn off those notifications when I’m focusing on my writing – vice versa. It took me way too long to put that boundary in place, but once I did, my ability to concentrate improved massively.

Saying No (Even When It’s Hard)

In my second year, I made the tough decision to leave an ongoing academic role, partly because the expectations just didn’t align with being part-time. I was constantly being contacted outside of hours and expected to jump in like I was full-time. Quitting was scary – hello job insecurity – but the improvement to my wellbeing was immediate and real. Sometimes you have to choose yourself.

Scheduling, with Wiggle Room

I use a shared calendar with my partner so we both know what’s happening and when….including non-negotiable downtime. I schedule my days with blocks, but I’m also realistic. I manage chronic pain, so if I have a crash day midweek, I’ll reshuffle things – maybe move a writing block to Sunday arvo. Flexibility within my desired structure has been key.

Communicating Crunch Times

When I’m in a crunch (like right now!), I let friends and family know. I still do my casual teaching work, but my writing schedule gets intense with tight deadlines. Being upfront means there are fewer expectations around spontaneous catch-ups or late-night dinner….and fewer guilty “sorry I can’t” texts from me.

No system is perfect, and things still fall through the cracks sometimes. But these strategies have helped me protect both my time and my energy. If you’re navigating the same mix of study, work, and life, I hope some of this is useful. And if you’re at the start of the doctoral level study I recommend you set those boundaries early. You’ll thank yourself later.