Balance does not mean giving equal time to everything, it means giving the right time to the right things at the right stage. Some weeks studies will need more, like before exams, and some weeks you will have room for hobbies and friends. Expecting a perfect even split every single day is what makes students feel like they are always failing at something.
Start by protecting the non negotiables, which are enough sleep, your core studies, and some movement, because everything else works better when those are steady. Then fit hobbies and social time around them intentionally rather than letting them either vanish or take over. Hobbies are not a waste of time, they protect your mental health and often make you sharper, so plan for them instead of feeling guilty about them.
The real skill is using your time honestly. A lot of the day quietly disappears into the phone, and students often feel they have no time when in fact they have plenty, just leaking away in small scrolls. Cutting that leak usually frees up more than enough space for both study and hobbies. Also learn to say no to things that do not matter to you, because every yes to something unimportant is a no to something you care about. Balance is a moving target you adjust week to week, not a fixed formula you get perfectly right.
Example: During exam month, studies take the front seat and hobbies shrink. In holidays, hobbies expand. Shifting the balance by season is normal and healthy.
One practical tip: Track where your time actually goes for two days. Most students find hours hidden in the phone that could cover both study and the hobbies they love.