CHINA FASHION BUSINESS

▼The following discussion in Leng Yun fashion community is a discussion and summary of industry issues. These shares are the crystallisation of collective wisdom. (They do not represent the personal views of Leng Yun). It is hoped that this method will benefit more industry professionals!

1. What is the hardest thing to balance in life? (Work / Study / Family / Personal Growth)

The host believes the most difficult areas to balance are part-time work, personal growth, and academic tasks.

Participants shared their perspectives:Some felt the hardest balance is between work and coursework—especially the time conflict between jobs and school assignments.

Some felt the real difficulty lies between academic work and personal development, because their current major may not be something they want to pursue in the future. Yet with no better alternatives right now, they constantly oscillate between nurturing personal abilities and completing coursework.Others felt the struggle is between personal growth and daily chores, the conflict between classwork and one’s own development path, and how to maintain enough energy to study and get things done.

2. How does everyone usually allocate time? Is the outcome ideal?

The host completes regular university courses first, then squeezes time for other work. But recently, with more classes and assignments, balancing everything has become difficult. He initially applied for a part-time job because he felt he had enough time, but now needs to readjust to regain balance.

His current approach: assign fixed time blocks to both assignments and work each day—doing a little bit daily and finishing tasks before each deadline.

Some participants said if an assignment isn’t due immediately, they set it aside to prioritize self-development—but this often results in rushing deadlines later, which increases pressure on both academics and personal growth.

Another participant allocates time based on task priority—sorting tasks by importance and handling them from highest to lowest.

3. Feeling busy but directionless

Everyone agreed they had experienced the state of “being busy every day but having no direction.”Some felt lost because they lacked a clear sense of purpose, making it hard to maintain efficiency and leaving them mentally drained.Some were overwhelmed by daily trivialities and eventually forgot their original goals.Others felt that during their time in the student union, the busyness felt more draining than fulfilling.

One participant said she used to feel this way when she only had coursework—she wasn’t sure whether her major could lead to a job. But after starting a part-time job, she now feels more direction: learning new things daily and meeting new people.

The host then asked everyone to reflect:With limited time, what would you prioritize? Why?

A. Work  B. Study  C. Rest  D. Family Time

One participant chose B, but clarified that “study” refers to learning skills related to her interests or future career, which gives her motivation and a sense of purpose—helping her avoid the “busy but aimless” state.Another chose C, explaining that “limited time” means after finishing work and study tasks. At that point, her energy isn’t at its peak; pushing further wouldn’t improve efficiency. Since she can visit home every weekend, she selected rest.Another chose D because she studies away from home and rarely sees her family. Since she can do her part-time work remotely with a laptop, she prioritizes family time.

1. Why do we always feel we don’t have enough time?

We often feel short on time because goals are too many or plans are unclear. Even when we plan how long each task should take, unexpected events—last-minute notices, sudden activities, health issues, relationship problems—can disrupt everything.Sometimes goals are clear, but we simply lack the ability to handle everything at once. In such cases, trade-offs are necessary—because we cannot have everything at the same time.

2. When work vs. academics or hobbies vs. academics conflict, how do you choose?

Some participants said part-time work provides real-world experience, while schoolwork feels abstract—especially when they believe their major has poor career prospects. Therefore, they choose work first, doing assignments only when necessary.

Others prioritize based on importance: if the job is valuable, work comes first; if the assignment is crucial, then academics take priority.Another method is time-based sorting: handle the most urgent task first. Hobbies can be cultivated unintentionally through work or study—they often overlap. Overall: Work = Study > Hobby.

Regarding whether they follow what “everyone else is doing,” one participant said no—she knows what is necessary for herself. If she hasn’t done something others are doing, it simply means that task ranks lower in her priorities.

Another participant said that when unsure, she doesn’t mind following others at first—because eventually her own ideas will emerge. Even if it’s a detour, it’s better than standing still. Following others while thinking independently can still help her learn.

When asked to choose between becoming an “efficient person” or a “person with a rich life,” participants unanimously preferred the latter.Some felt that mental richness is essential—being efficient but emotionally numb would feel like living as a robot.A richer life brings varied experiences, helps clarify one’s true desires, strengthens inner resilience, and provides the ability to face challenges.

1. Set goals first, then make plans

Start by clarifying why you want to do something: use purpose to guide action.When you want too many things, you risk losing both the essential and the important. Having clear goals helps identify what to keep and what to let go.Work backward from your desired outcome:If the expected result does not align with your goals, let it go. Do not fear dropping meaningless activities or social interactions—reserve your time for growth and self-improvement.Also, set priorities and use weekly planning to focus time on tasks that truly matter.

2. Manage energy and attention

Energy, attention, and thinking ability are key.Maintain regular routines, engage in moderate exercise, and review progress regularly—this significantly increases productivity.

3. Reduce ineffective time

Reducing “time-wasting” is another important approach.Participants defined wasted time as doing meaningless things—such as attending classes with no substance.However, one participant said that spacing out or watching short videos isn’t necessarily wasted time—these help her relax amid a busy schedule. As long as the activity has meaning for the individual, it isn’t wasted time.

PS:Translation is done by AI.