5 Simple Tricks to Balancing School & Sports
Student-athletes are busy.
Whether it's preseason or postseason, you will find a student-athlete hurrying to the locker room's after class to make practice, getting physical therapy for a temperamental injury, or meeting with their coach to watch game footage. Their days are filled with athletic commitments, and responsibilities as a college student.
It can seem overwhelming at times, but here are 5 simple ways to find a balance between being a student and a successful athlete.
1. Have a designated time period to do homework.
This is so important. If you don’t have a set time of day where you can do homework, you’ll never get it done. Too often, I’ll collapse onto my bed after an evening practice and watch Orange is the New Black in my bed until I fall asleep. I’ll regret this the next day when I don’t have my reading done in time for a class discussion. I recommend having a “homework time” scheduled for before your practice. I think it is better to be busy before your practice, so you can relax or finish up a small assignment after training.
2. Make a schedule and stick to it.
Similar to the first point, establishing a daily routine will help you balance your time between school and sports. I have an hourly timetable for each day of the week. I even schedule in times for lunch and dinner when I know my friends will be in the dining hall so I can join them. It is extremely helpful to see your week laid out in front of you so you can visualize what days and times you are free. I have an example of my time table below.
Here is a screenshot from my freshman year schedule.
3. Become a morning gal.
I know, I know, this one sucks. But there just isn’t enough hours in the day if you roll out of bed at 10:30 for an 11 am class. Personally, my schedule is usually packed from the afternoon to the evening with classes and practices, so I would use the morning to crank out the introduction to an essay or get some reading done. Making a habit of waking up early will help you accomplish more in your day. Hey, at least coffee exists!
4. Create close relationships with your professors.
Having a close relationship with your profs is key during your season. Meet with them during their office hours, and actively engage in class (even though you may be totally zoned out thinking about tomorrow's game). That way, if you have a crazy weekend with games, you can ask your professor for an extension on the homework and they’ll most likely say yes. Also, professors are just super cool in general and worth getting close with.
5. Eat healthy foods, take your vitamins, don’t get sick!
This one is pretty self-explanatory. When you’re sick your routine tends to fall apart and nursing yourself back to health becomes the main priority. Eating a balanced diet and taking daily vitamins can help keep you safe you when flu season rolls around.
I hope these 5 easy tips will help you balance your academics and sports! Don't forget to leave a comment down below; I want to know YOUR tips for balancing school and sports!
Have a great day!
~A College Girl