Balancing schoolwork and playing a sport is no easy task, but there are ways to make it less stressful.
Some student-athletes might enjoy doing schoolwork over playing their sport while others might enjoy playing their sport over doing schoolwork. This can cause one’s motivation for one side to be stronger than the other.
As a student-athlete who is fully dedicated to playing soccer and running track, it can get super hard balancing it with schoolwork. Some nights I might feel too tired to finish my homework, or I might stay up late to finish my schoolwork. Throughout my three years in high school, I have learned many ways to help balance schoolwork and sports.
One of the best ways to reduce stress while balancing school and sports is to stay on top of the schoolwork. If you are someone like me who has track five nights a week and soccer every day, then staying on top of work is crucial. At the beginning of the school week, I usually try and get most of my homework done for the week so that I can shift my focus to sports after school.
One way to manage schoolwork with a sport is taking advantage of an off mod. Many students tend not to do work during their off mods, which can increase the amount of work that a student-athlete could have and can make it more stressful. Using an off mod to do work can also allow a student-athlete to be on top of their work and not have as much work.
When having to leave school early for games, many students begin to stress about missing work or making up tests. An easy way to reduce stress is to email teachers before the dismissal and figuring out what work is needed to be made up. Doing work on the bus rides to games can also be a way to get done some of the make-up work and studying.
Having a test is another thing some student-athletes might stress about. Athletes might get worried about having a big test the next school day and not getting the study-time they need because of having a late practice or game. Depending on what specific time a practice or game starts, studying can always happen before, after, or even the next morning.
The stress of balancing schoolwork and playing a sport at a high level is super hard, but making sure people get the sleep they need is just as challenging.
There have been some nights when I do not get the amount of sleep I need, and I feel super tired the next morning. That also is why staying on top of schoolwork is important. Being able to learn and play sports at a high level is far more difficult if you do not get the sleep you need.
Many student-athletes struggle with schoolwork and playing a sport, but if they can stay on top of the work, plan ahead, balancing these things will be much easier.