Work life balance is a constant struggle – no matter your age. Statistically, 65% of the workforce in the UK seeks work-life balance. And over 50% of people would take a lower salary to achieve this goal.
When you’re an intern in the hustle and bustle of London, it’s challenging to not make the internship your life.
You're working diligently to gain experience in your desired field, and with high demands, you may find yourself missing out on life outside of work. The good news? The UK is one of the countries with the highest work-life balance in the world.
But if you’re new to London, it will take time to acclimate to the city and its rhythm.
Discovering the London Beat: Embrace the City's Rhythms
London has culture, food, nightlife and a world of opportunities for anyone who is willing to discover it. You need to find your footing. But how?
Finding Your Footing in London's Diverse Culture
In London alone, there are 300 (give or take) languages spoken by people from all walks of life. If you want to fit in culturally, you need to find your tribe. New interns who end up in London will often meet people at:
- Universities
- Internship locations
- Apartment buildings
You can make friends in other ways, too: volunteer, go to the gym, use MeetUp.com and take classes (not at Uni).
Once you have a footing in London on a cultural level, it will be much easier for you to assimilate into the environment.
Mastering Your Internship: Strategies for Success
Capital Placement offers insights into internship success when taking an internship in London. What can you begin doing to make the most out of your experience?
Maximizing Productivity During Office Hours
Office hours are where you can truly learn the most and network. You want to be as productive as possible during these hours, which means trying to:
- Prioritize tasks using the Eat That Frog strategy or other methods
- Exceed expectations to make a lasting impression
- Utilize to-do lists to try and keep working through tasks logically
- Batch tasks together
If you start maximizing your productivity, you’ll get more done faster. When you’re juggling an internship, academics and a social life, it’s more imperative than ever to be productive.
Leveraging Constructive Criticism for Professional Development
Internships are for learning. If you’re not prepared for criticism, it will quickly cause you to feel inadequate in your position. What we recommend is doing the following:
- Consider all feedback you receive
- Listen to the feedback to be a better version of yourself
- Avoid the negative comments
- Ask for constructive feedback from multiple people
- Rinse and repeat
When you’re just learning, you can use this feedback to grow in your career faster and more efficiently.
After Hours: Exploring London's Hidden Gems
If you want to be as productive as possible as an intern, you need to work hard and play hard. London has a lot to offer, and a few hidden gems worth exploring are:
- St Dunstans in the East
- Painted Hall
- Historic Pubs
- Temple of Mithraeum
Of course, you should explore all of London when you can, including the London Eye, the Tower of London, The British Museum and dozens of other sites.
Networking and Socializing: Building Lasting Connections
Networking is an important part of building any career and succeeding with an internship. But it’s also an opportunity to socialize and start building lasting connections.
Making time for networking opportunities will help bring some balance to life as an intern, allowing you to spend time socializing while building your network of valuable connections.
Health and Wellbeing: Staying Balanced in a Busy City
Learning how to maintain a healthy work life balance is crucial, whether you’re an intern or many years into a career. Mastering this balance early on as an intern will provide you with a valuable skill that you can rely on throughout your career.
Setting Boundaries for Personal Time
One of the best ways to stay balanced while living in a busy city like London is to set boundaries for personal time.
- Communicate your boundaries clearly. Speak with supervisors about expectations and make sure there’s a mutual understanding of your availability.
- Know when to say “no,” and be firm but professional when saying “no.”
Setting boundaries is important. As an intern, you’re likely eager to help out as much as you can and say “yes” to as many opportunities as possible. However, taking on too many tasks can lead to burnout and hinder your performance in the long run.
Maintaining a healthy balance will allow you to perform at your best while still enjoying life.
In Conclusion
Internship success largely depends on your performance and ability to make meaningful networking connections. Learning how to balance work and life as an intern while reaching these goals can be challenging but not impossible. Use the tips in this guide to make the most of your internship while enjoying what London has to offer.
