Successfully juggling studies and careers alongside your personal life can be a challenge. Well, in some places more than others, for sure. If you’ve chosen Europe for your studies abroad, you should know that here, you’ll also enjoy a great work-life balance if you plan to stay longer. Other popular student destinations with good life-work balance include Canada and Australia.
How does work-life balance affect students?
Perhaps you’re already building your career while also studying for a Master’s degree, or you just started uni and are curious if the country you live in now can give you a balanced life once you graduate and start working. Either way, knowing more about which countries are best for work-life balance helps you make a better decision about where to study, live, and work. Europe has excellent work-life balance, research on the subject shows. European cities take up the first places in such rankings, while. Scandinavian countries all feature in the Top 10 worldwide. Countries such as Canada, Australia, and Japan are also places to consider when weighing your personal against your job.
These are the factors that influence work-life balance:
- Work Intensity, meaning how many remote jobs are available in a city, unemployment figures, the number of vacation days taken each year, how many people worked more than one job, etc;
- Society and Institutions, which considers state support, healthcare services, mental health support, and how inclusive workplaces are;
- Livability, which looks at how affordable a city is, culture and leisure activities, safety, air quality and outdoor space, and happiness of citizens.
When having to choose which city is best for you in terms of work-life balance, pick what is more important to you out from the list above – the availability of remote jobs, mental health support, or perhaps the number of parental leave days – and find out how does the country where you want to move to tackle that subject. But for now, let’s look into more detail at what it is to have a great work-life balance.
Why is work-life balance important for students and graduates
To understand how work-life balance affects you as a student or a graduate imagine a scale: on one side, you have your studies and part-time or full-time job; on the other, your personal life – your hobbies, vacations, and time spent with friends and family. If you spend the same amount of time on each, then you have balance. We commonly refer to it as work-life balance. As soon as you spend one extra hour at work, or spend an extra hour with friends, the balance disappears. Since we rarely spend as much time doing both, it is up to you to decide what is most important and when or why one is more important than the other.
You'll know you're experiencing work-life balance when you can easily handle your daily activities without feeling you are missing out on something. Do you have time for your studies, for your family, for exercising or going out without feeling stressed or anxious? If you have a job and pursue higher education at the same time, do you feel like your employer supports your education? Can you take time off for assignments and exams? The answer to these questions shows how good your country is at supporting a healthy work-life balance.
What factors influence your work-life balance
But what contributes to this balance? Here are some primary indicators to consider:
- Flexibility in working hours: the ability to adapt your work schedule to your personal needs can significantly impact your life.
- Possibility to take unpaid leave to finish writing assignments or learning for exams.
- Annual leave allowances: having sufficient vacation time is very important for your well-being; besides, relaxation improves mental well-being and productivity levels.
- Parental leave policies: longer parental leave allows you to enjoy your family life and be present in your baby’s life without worrying about job security.
- Health insurance coverage: good health coverage contributes to peace of mind, enabling you to prevent and treat health issues without losing your financial security.
- Childcare support: affordable or free childcare takes off significant pressure from working parents, and that leads to a more balanced life.
How you study reflects how you’ll work
However, work-life harmony is not only a product of government policies and employee rights; this harmony is deeply connected to local culture and the collective mindset. One thing you’ll notice is that universities often mirror a country’s job market. The way universities approach you as a student, the types of resources it allocates for you, and how well-organised their courses and admission processes are, all of these reflect more largely on what to expect after graduating and getting a job in that country. Unsurprisingly, popular study-abroad destinations like Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia are also some of the best countries for work-life balance.
As you can see, work-life balance is a concept with multiple faces. For an international student planning to live and possibly work in a new country, understanding these factors is an important step in making the right decision for your future.
Countries with the best work-life balance
The countries with the best work-life balance in the world are Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and Austria, according to a reputed study. More recent research also places Japan on the list.
European countries with the best work-life balance
Despite the small differences, one thing is clear: the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark), as well as Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands, are the European countries with the best work-life balance. Let's have a look at what they do right.
Finland is a great place to study, work, and live. Declared the happiest country in the world by the World Happiness Report, Finland places a strong emphasis on leisure and outdoor activities, promoting an active, healthy lifestyle for students and workers alike. Today, Finland has the most flexible working schedule on the planet. And this is gold for students because it makes it a lot easier to have a job and study at the same time.
The country also encourages parents to spend quality time with their children without sacrificing their careers. Add to that the cleanest air in the world, beautiful forests everywhere, and free education for EU students, and you’ll start to see why Finland is a great place to live even after your studies.
Work in Norway is taken seriously from a young age. People choose their intended careers early on and start pursuing relevant courses. And studying for a Master’s or PhD must be directly connected to your previous education. Combining this with the fact that Norway is very rich in oil and is one of the four most prosperous countries in the world, alongside the other Scandinavian nations, according to the Prosperity Index, you can see how people’s education and careers are a stable, well-organised part of their lives.
Flexible hours, two years of parental leave, and high efficiency during working hours characterise Sweden. People spend a lot of time with their families and friends, but when they are in the office, there are fewer interruptions and socialising than you’ll see in other countries where people work longer hours. This type of focused approach to your current activity contributes greatly to achieving work-life balance in Sweden. In addition, mostly free healthcare, some of the best universities in the world, and beautiful outdoor spaces everywhere give people the peace of mind they need to enjoy a balanced life.
Denmark has an official work week of 37 hours, and most Danes leave work around 4 pm. Although they are hard workers, overtime is not encouraged, and you’ll find that businesses are almost shut off in July when most people go off to enjoy summer. The country has a deep-rooted belief in "hygge," a concept meaning comfort, contentment, and well-being. This philosophy extends to universities and workplaces, both prioritising students’ and employees’ satisfaction.
In Switzerland, it’s a common thing for families to eat lunch together during weekdays. Your studies or work and personal life are intertwined throughout the day. Being punctual in meetings is a must, but so is being punctual for your breaks! In their free time, Swiss people enjoy walks with breathtaking views of the Alps and the clear-blue lakes. And one of the best ways to make time for that, as well as other hobbies, is to start your day early and finish early. Starting work by 8 am is a common thing.
Germany has business opening hours and employee working hours regulated by federal law. This means workers are protected by law and businesses can’t abuse people’s rights. People’s attitudes toward labour and the German workplace culture, both support the idea that healthy and happy people are more productive and contribute in more positive ways to the world around them. Together with "Feierabend," a German term that means the end of the work day when people are expected to fully disconnect from their work, these aspects lead to a healthy work-life balance.
The Netherlands is known for its widespread part-time work culture. According to the Economist, 26.8% of men and 76.6% of women work on a part-time basis, meaning less than 36 hours per week. A consequence of this professional choice is having a lot more time for studies, for friends and family and for pursuing hobbies. On top of that, the Dutch enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in courses or at work, where people are heard and have the freedom to speak up their minds. There is a generalised feeling of respect and equality between professors and students, as well as employers and employees.
Countries outside Europe with the best work-life balance
If you’d rather study outside Europe, there is a good option in terms of work-life balance on almost every continent! Canada, Australia, and Japan are excellent choices for a good-quality, balanced life.
In Canada, Ottawa is the city with the best work-life balance. Here you can find most employers that offer flexible work hours and the option to work from home. Moreover, Canada has a strong social welfare system, including parental leave benefits and universal healthcare, all of which support people with having a balanced life.
Work-life balance in Australia is rooted in their attitude to life, better known as “the Aussie lifestyle.” This attitude to life means being able to have fun without too many worries. Australians love spending time outdoors, from swimming in the ocean to exploring the old mountains. They also have a strong sports culture and cherish good food and coming together with friends and family to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate. This extends to the workplace as well because Australians like collaboration and stress-free environments so helping each other in class or in the office and being great team players are part of the deal.
The Japanese work culture emphasises loyalty and dedication. However, work-life balance is not typically associated with Japan, better known for long working hours, especially for the "salaryman," a term for white-collar employees who dedicate their lives to their companies. Nevertheless, Japanese society has many positive aspects that counterbalance that. Tokyo is one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world, and students have the chance to find jobs while they are still studying. This way, you won't have to get all stressed about your career when you graduate. Their culture, from rituals and traditions to the food they eat on a daily basis, is based on respect for all things and cherishing life. All these elements together create the balanced life that Japanese people enjoy.
Key takeaways
Countries with the best work-life balance are often great study-abroad destinations as well. Some of the common traits they share are placing value on people’s education, reasonable work hours, great annual leave policies, flexible working arrangements, support for parents through parental leave and affordable childcare, and a culture that values personal time. But each country is different and puts more value on some things than others. You should look into what suits you best. Perhaps you want the possibility of meeting your friends for lunch as in Switzerland, or you want the two years of parental leave from Sweden. Ask yourself what benefits and work/study attitudes best suit your lifestyle.
