Let’s be real. All of us crave more time to do the things we love. Between getting out into nature in the morning and catching your favourite gig by night, having flexibility in your day can mean building a life you’re obsessed with.

But when you’re juggling work, study and everything else that comes with being an adult, finding that freedom can feel easier said than done.

So, how do you achieve flexibility while still keeping your responsibilities ticking along?

Get Real About Your Schedule

We all want to cram more into the day, but what could be swapped out or pared back to make room for the things you actually want to do?

Sitting down with your weekly schedule, including work and any study, and mapping out where you can realistically find more time for hobbies, friends or simply doing nothing can help you feel more in control of the weeks that are flying by.

We all have commitments, but it’s worth asking whether your schedule actually matches the lifestyle you want. Maybe you want to start the day with a swim rather than a packed commute. Maybe you’d rather spend your lunch break outside, or have the freedom to take a long weekend without having to rearrange your entire life.

The trick is finding ways to build your commitments around the life you actually want, rather than constantly trying to squeeze the things you love into whatever time is left over.

Find A Way To Study That Fits Your Life

If you’re considering study but aren’t sure how it would work between your job and social life, there are more options available than ever.

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) has been offering flexible education for more than 50 years, beginning as a distance education provider before online learning became the norm. Today, its flexible study options allow students to study online, giving them more freedom to learn where (and when) they want.

That means you can keep working while you study, maintain your existing lifestyle and build a study routine around your commitments — rather than putting everything else on hold.

And flexibility doesn’t mean sacrificing support. UniSQ is rated five stars for its student-teacher ratio, with smaller classes giving you more opportunities to connect with lecturers and receive personalised support.

That support can keep paying off after your studies as well. UniSQ is ranked #1 in Australia for graduate starting salary and has received a five-star rating for graduates in full-time employment. This means you’ll not only get the support and flexibility you need during your studies, you’re also putting yourself in a stronger position when it’s time to start your career.

So, whether your ideal day involves a morning gym session, a long lunch, a full day at work or catching your favourite band on a Tuesday night, flexible study and support could help to make room for more of it.

Stop Waiting For The Perfect Time

It’s easy to convince yourself that you’ll make a change when things “calm down”. When work is less busy, you’ve saved a little more, or you have more time. When life is (somehow) a little more organised.

But there’s never a perfect time to start something new. Instead, it can be about finding an option that works with the life you already have and gives you enough flexibility to keep doing the things that make you happy.

Your future doesn’t have to look like a rigid five-year plan, even if all your mates seem to be on that path. Sometimes it can look like studying from wherever you are, working towards where you want to go, and making a little more room for the life you actually want to live.

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