Trisha Pandey

School, practice, games, homework, projects, tournaments, how should one manage it all?

For student athletes, balancing your academic and social life with your athletic life can be overwhelming, especially when it feels like you don’t get any time for yourself. The first step in making that time is creating good habits. Bad habits = bad outcomes.

It is easy to give up or just feel overwhelmed. “I don’t balance it out. I just let it be, “ said Alejandra Osorio, a senior track runner. 

As a student athlete myself, my best and favorite way to stay on track is to plan ahead. Writing down assignment deadlines, practice days, game days, etc in a digital calendar or even putting them on sticky notes around your room keeps you on track of time and aware of upcoming deadlines.

Another super helpful trick is to use your “free” time wisely. Free school periods, pre/post practice time, car and or bus rides all provide extra time to complete any work you have, organize your plans for the upcoming days, or even review some notes for school. When used wisely all of the little amounts of time can add up.

On busy days, you may not be able to complete everything all in one go. That’s why setting priorities and focusing on the urgent tasks first can reduce the overwhelming feeling. Finishing important work before going out with friends or doom scrolling for hours will save you time and energy in the long run.

The most important part of being a student athlete is rest. Time management isn’t about working all day everyday, it’s about making time to take care of yourself too.

“Eat a lot. You’re gonna feel trash if you don’t,” said Emerson Marcon, a junior boxer.

Making sure you get enough sleep, take breaks, and eat properly can help with staying focused.

For student athletes, time management can make or break you. It’s much more than carrying a planner around or staying on top of deadlines. It’s a skill that’ll improve your academic, athletic, and social performances. It’ll also help you succeed in all walks of life because figuring everything out is never easy, it’s just the right habits that make it feel bearable.