In this month’s What’s Up student column, Bojana Evtimova describes how running helps a busy student manage the pressures of university life, deadlines, exams, and responsibilities. The author explains that running became a personal escape that provides mental clarity, reduces stress, and improves overall well-being. By planning workouts alongside lectures, meals, and rest, they learned discipline, patience, and perseverance. 

Deadlines, exams, work, chores, social life… It’s the mix every 20-something is trying to juggle. Starting from scratch and organizing everything can feel overwhelming. You want every step you take to matter, to feel productive - but actually starting is the hardest part. Finding motivation and energy is a challenge on its own.

For me, running became my escape. It gave me a mental break from all the obligations piled on my plate. I’ve been exercising consistently for five years now, and it has helped me step away from stress and reconnect with myself. That one hour of the day dedicated only to me helps me reset and handle the rest of my responsibilities more easily.

When I have morning lectures, I plan my whole day around them - but I also make sure to plan my training in the evening. It’s not just “study and workout”; it’s scheduling meals, breaks, and rest so I actually have the stamina for everything.

Over time, I realised that running teaches you more than discipline. It shows you how to be patient with yourself, how to push through on days when you have zero motivation, and how to trust the small steps you take daily. The quiet moments on the track or road often give me clarity I can’t find anywhere else—answers to things I’ve been overthinking or simply the space to breathe.

I also discovered a deeper connection between my studies and running. The goals felt surprisingly similar. Passing an exam and finishing a marathon both require focus, effort, persistence, and a lot of mental strength. For me, the result was never the most important part. It was the dedication and consistency it took to reach it.

Running didn’t just keep me fit - it grounded me. It taught me how to manage my time, handle stress, and stay committed to my goals. As students, we often rush from one task to another, but running reminded me to slow down, breathe, and trust the process. From deadlines to finish lines, it’s the same lesson: keep moving forward, one step at a time.

The author of the column is Bojana Evtimova, a student from North Macedonia, studying at the Faculty of Pedagogy, at the University of Ljubljana, and a participant in the first European Students Run, competing in half maraton, 21km distance.