How to Balance Work and Leisure While Interning Abroad

Interning abroad is the perfect opportunity to gain professional experience while exploring a new country. However, balancing work responsibilities with leisure activities such as traveling and exploring can be challenging. Here’s how to obtain the perfect balance and make the most of your international internship.

Prioritize and Plan

Set Clear Boundaries

• Establish clear working hours and stick to them: This reduces procrastination and helps you keep up with deadlines.
• Avoid checking work emails or completing tasks during your free time: It can be tempting to work during your free time to avoid disappointing your supervisor. However, it is important to establish the necessary boundaries in order to keep your private life and professional life balanced.

Create a Schedule

• Plan your week ahead: Allocate separate time for work and leisure. Plan out your activities beforehand to prevent overlapping of activities.
• Keep track of your activities: Make use of tools like calendars and planners to track and monitor your activities. This prevents forgetting of tasks and leads to timely completion of your work.

Set Personal Goals

Clearly write down your goals for your internship. This helps maintain focus and motivation as you have clear goals you are working towards.

Make the Most of Your Weekends

• Explore Your Host City: Visit museums, parks and cultural sites to explore and experience local culture. Visit new restaurants and explore new attractions and landmarks.
• Plan Short Getaways: Travel to nearby cities during your days off or weekends to make the most out of your time and explore as much as possible
• Engage in Local Activities: Join local clubs, groups and communities to meet new people and learn more about the culture. Participate in community events, fairs and festivals to immerse yourself in the culture

Stay Active and Healthy

• Exercise Regularly: Incorporate physical activities such as jogging, walking or sign up for a gym membership. Outdoor activities such as hiking, nature walks and biking are also great ways to stay active while exploring.
• Maintain a Balanced Diet: Enjoy healthy local cuisine from local restaurants or buy healthy foods from grocery stores. Stay hydrated and avoid unhealthy habits such as excessive drinking. This helps you stay focused and at the top of your game.
• Get Enough Rest: Avoid overworking or staying out late to ensure you are getting adequate rest. This also ensures you are able to keep up with work.

Embrace Work-Life Integration

• Combine Work and Leisure: Take part in activities that are beneficial for both work and personal interests such as industry events and seminars. These events facilitate networking and professional growth.
• Communicate with Your Employer: Be upfront about any requests for time off or leaving work early. Always keep your employer in the loop to avoid disappointment.
• Reflect on Your Experience: Regularly assess how well you are balancing your life and work. Make the necessary adjustments to improve your experience

Leverage Local Resources

• Join Intern and Expat Communities: Connect with other people working abroad to share experiences and advise.
• Utilize Work Resources: Seek out mentors, company-sponsored events and social gatherings to advance your career and professional growth.
• Seek Advice from Locals: This can include health, travel, safety, work and cultural advice which can help you adapt and navigate the new country better.

Balancing work and leisure while interning abroad is all about planning and making responsible choices. By following these tips you can ensure a fulfilling and enjoyable international internship experience. Explore our international internship opportunities and take the first step towards a rewarding experience abroad! 🌍✈️