Being a student-athlete is challenging, to say the least. On one hand, you have teachers wanting you to be the student, but you also have coaches and teammates wanting you to be the athlete. So how can you be both? The answer is time management.
Student athletes are stuck in an endless cycle of school, practice, homework and sleep. It’s a commitment that takes up your life as a high schooler. It is fun and definitely rewarding, but it’s also exhausting. That’s why it is so important that athletes manage their time wisely and allow themselves time to relax and sleep to recharge their bodies.
It can be hard to study and get your assignments in on time when you have two to three games a week and practice every day, but it’s not impossible. To manage your time, you must use your class time wisely. For example, when you are in math class, only do math assignments, and when you’re in English class, only do your English homework. Once you have all your work done from that class, then you can do homework from other classes. This is helpful because if you don’t spend your class time doing other things, then you won’t fall behind in the class you are in. Focusing on multiple things at once can cause stress and get you behind on your work.
One of the most helpful tools I have adapted to is using a day planner to stay organized. In my planner, I can write down my whole schedule onto the calendar, including games, practices, due dates, etc. Having everything organized in one book can be very useful for some people because you know exactly where you need to be, what you have to do and other important notable things.
Balancing academics and athletics is no easy task, but with effective time management and organization, it is doable. While the demands of being a student athlete can feel overwhelming, developing good habits will help maintain a strong GPA and build skills that will benefit athletes beyond high school. At the end of the day, the key is finding a routine that works for you, one that allows you to excel both in the classroom and on the field.
