Finding time and money when you think there’s none

Posted on Apr 15 2025 by Jo

“There are only so many hours in the day” is what we tell ourselves when drowning in assignments, work shifts, and that group project with three people who never check their emails. But what if there actually were enough hours? What would that even look like? 

When you’re constantly feeling like you don’t have enough time, money, brain cells after your 8 am lecture—that’s called a scarcity mindset. It’s that mental state where all you can focus on is what you don’t have, and it’s about as helpful as a chocolate teapot. 

Where scarcity mindset shows up for students: 
  • Scrolling through Instagram at 2 am, comparing yourself to that classmate who somehow manages perfect grads, a social life, AND abs. Meanwhile you're eating cold noodles over your laptop and calling it ‘multitasking’. 
     
  • Trying to match others spending when your bank account is sending you passive-aggressive low balance alerts. 
Is the glass half empty or half full?
What your brain’s actually doing and why it’s not you’re fault 

Research shows that students most commonly experience scarcity around two things: money and time. When your brain is in scarcity mode: 

  • Your mental bandwidth shrinks: When you’re stressed about deadlines or your bank balance, you literally lose cognitive capacity. It’s like to trying to run Netflix, Photoshop and three video games simultaneously on Windows XP. 
     
  • You develop tunnel vision: Your brain starts “tunnelling”, focusing only on the immediate crisis while ignoring everything else. This is why you spend six hours on a minor assessment worth 5% while completely forgetting about the major assessment project due next week. 
Breaking free: Strategies that actually work 

For time management: 

  • Break it down like you're explaining TikTok to your grandparents: Instead of staring at an assignment question, start by identifying the task words to think about what you are being asked to do. Then move to mind mapping to generate ideas about how you will answer the assignment question. Small wins create momentum. 
     
  • Make checklists your new obsession: The dopamine hit from checking things off is better than... well, maybe not better than everything, but it's pretty satisfying. 
     
  • Get feedback early and often: Don't wait until you've written 3,000 words to discover you completely misunderstood the assignment. Ask your lecturers, tutors, and the Writing Centre for guidance. Their job is literally to help you succeed! 
     
  • Use your syllabus like it's a treasure map: Those course objectives, due dates, and assignment weights? They're telling you exactly what to prioritize. It's like having the answers to the test before you take it. 
For Financial Stress 

Rather than adopting the "bury your head in the sand and cry" financial strategy (which I've personally tested and do not recommend), take control by using all available resources: 

On-Campus Support: 

  • Student Care's Food Pantry: Free food items every Wednesday from 12-2 pm at Union House, level 4, room 413. Just bring your student ID. 
     
  • Breakfast Club: Free breakfast Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 - 10:30 am during study periods at level 5, Union House. No booking needed—just show up. 
     
  • Student Loans and Grants: If you're in a financial bind, Education & Welfare Officers can help with emergency grants and loans. Call Student Care at 8313 5430 or email studentcare@adelaide.edu.au. 
     
  • Free Hygiene Products: Access free pads and tampons across campus locations. 

Off-Campus Support: 

  • Vinnies: Help with accommodation, meals, and emergency assistance 

Remember: Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness—it's actually the smartest thing you can do. The most successful students aren't the ones who never struggle; they're the ones who know how to leverage every resource available. 

Students who feel in control of their time and finances experience less stress, higher productivity, and better academic performance. Which means you can stop stress-eating cereal for dinner and actually enjoy your university experience. 

Now go forth and conquer the rest of the semester—armed with resources, strategies, and the knowledge that everyone else is just as confused as you are.  

An abundance mindset is a tool you can use to offset thoughts around scarcity. This article on the Headspace website will provide you with more information: Overcoming the Scarcity Mindness with Abundance | Headspace

Sources:

Tagged in student news