Student-Athletes: Can You Juggle, too?
Being a student-athlete at the collegiate level can be both rewarding and challenging! As a collegiate athlete you are responsible for managing your class schedules, school work, strength and conditioning sessions, mandatory team events, traveling for games, social events, etc., while also finding the time to take care of yourself. We are here to help support you and teach you some tips on juggling all of life’s demands. Time management is the key to success in your dual role as a student-athlete. In this blog, we’ll explore effective strategies for managing your time to help you excel in your role as a student, athlete, and as a human.
1. Create a Detailed Schedule:
The first step to effective time management is to create a detailed schedule. You can create this schedule on your calendar app, google calendar, a planner, and/or a dry erase board/planner! Start by listing all of your mandatory activities: class times, practice, games, and strength & conditioning sessions. Then mark down when assignments are due based on your syllabi. This helps with the next step–allocating time to complete assignments and study! By having a clear idea on what your daily and weekly commitments are, you can better plan for social events, completing any errands you may have, doing your laundry, and moments for self-care.
2. Prioritize Tasks:
As a student-athlete you are typically told that “you are a student first, that’s why it is student-athlete and not athlete-student.” This can sometimes feel like a mixed message when you are completing assignments while traveling to a game or missing part of class due to a game. This can make this strategy difficult, but remember that prioritizing is not set in stone and priorities can change!
Prioritize your responsibilities by identifying which tasks are most important and which tasks are time-sensitive! Can any tasks be completed simultaneously? Using the matrix at right can help you decide how to prioritize. Remember: Self-care is both urgent and important–try not to skip this on your schedule!
3. Use Time Blocks:
Time blocking is a technique that involves setting aside specific blocks of time for specific tasks. For example: designating a specific block of time where you will study or complete assignments, designating a block of time where you and your friends go for a walk or eat lunch together every week, etc. This approach can help prevent procrastination and maintain focus!
You may be asking: But what if I’m not motivated when my time block is scheduled?
Set up your own reward system! You can tell yourself; “if I go to the library for the next hour and complete my assignments, I can reward myself with (insert something you love here!).
You can also remind yourself that if you do not complete the assigned task you will have to find the time to do it later!
Time block your time block! For example: If you have 1 hour set aside for completing assignments, you can time block it into 15 minutes of work followed by 5 minutes for a break until the assignment (or the hour) is complete.
4. Take Care of Your Well-Being:
Balancing all of life’s responsibilities as a collegiate-level student-athlete can be stressful, so finding time for YOU is important. We talked about self-care and I am sure your coaches, athletic trainers, and support system keep telling you about self-care too. But, has anyone ever told you what self-care is?
The most important form of self-care is ensuring that you are sleeping and eating to fuel your body for all of its responsibilities. Other forms of self-care can be anything that you enjoy doing that makes you feel at ease. This could be laying down watching a movie, going for a run, painting, playing video games, going to a yoga class, hanging out with friends, taking a long shower, or sitting in a silent room. Self-care is whatever resets your mind and body!
5. Seek Support:
Maintaining open communication with your professors, coaches, teammates, and friends is crucial. Let them know about any scheduling conflicts in advance! Most professors and coaches are understanding and can assist you in finding solutions. Seek support by utilizing your professors’ office hours if needed, academic advisors, and peers. Also, your campus likely has mental health counseling that is available to you if needed.
Time management can be a tedious task that may feel unnecessary, but it is a critical skill for student-athletes! By creating a structured schedule, prioritizing tasks, taking care of your own well-being, and seeking support when needed, you can successfully manage your time and enjoy a fulfilling college experience. The ability to successfully manage your time is a valuable life skill that you will utilize well beyond your college years!
If you would like more information about time management, or need extra support managing all of your role expectations, we can help!
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