I (16M) have been with my girlfriend (16F) for almost a year now (our anniversary is in about 25 days).

During Class 10, I had a lot more free time, so we used to text and call much more. After Class 10, I joined JEE coaching, and my schedule became much heavier. I solve around 70–100 questions daily, my coaching center is about 20–22 km away, and I'm usually out from around 2 PM to 8 PM. I wake up early to study and sleep early as well.

Because of this, I can't give her the same amount of time and attention that I used to. I still talk to her every day and care about her a lot, but I simply don't have the same free time anymore.

Recently, we had an argument about this that turned into a deeper conversation. She asked me if she wasn't worth my time anymore. That really hurt because I genuinely love her and that's not how I feel at all. I got overwhelmed, cried a bit, and she ended up comforting me afterward.

The difficult part is that she doesn't just want more time—she misses the level of attention and availability we had before JEE started. Honestly, I understand why she feels that way.

My mum knows about our relationship and has known since the beginning. She's actually pretty supportive. She even tells me to go spend quality time with my girlfriend sometimes and jokingly tells me to "use protection" 😭. At the same time, she's strict about studies and phone usage. My mum says I should tell my girlfriend clearly when I'm available instead of trying to text all day. For example, having a fixed hour to talk and not expecting constant replies outside that time. When I told my girlfriend this idea, she said, "We'll see."

My girlfriend understands that JEE is important, but she still feels hurt by the reduced time and attention. I don't think either of us is wrong. I feel stuck between JEE prep, family, friends, and my relationship.

Has anyone gone through something similar during Classes 11–12 or while preparing for competitive exams? How did you balance a relationship and academics without making your partner feel unimportant? 

(Used chatgpt cause i can't trust my english)

16M, almost 1 year into my relationship, and JEE prep is making my girlfriend feel neglected. How do I balance this?