Balancing school and extracurriculars is hard; it took a while before I learned some tricks to manage my time between the two, and I am still learning. As a new high school student, the workload can sometimes be a shock. It is important to develop a good work ethic and discipline in order to complete schoolwork, as well as personal priorities. Over time, I have found the best strategies to help me adjust to my school life and social life.
Here are some of the basic tips you can implement into your lifestyle:
1. Self-Discipline and Time Management
Removing all distractions in your environment. If you have too many temptations in your environment, it will be hard to get things done and you will fall behind.
Self-discipline may manifest in a variety of ways. Making a To-Do list can help. It reminds you of what needs to be done and can give you the motivation to tick off the boxes on your list.
Keeping a daily schedule also helps! You can put reminders on your phone or keep a hard copy. Either way, a schedule is a great way to keep yourself organized and balanced.
Keep yourself on track. Pay attention in class/practice and you will find yourself on top of things.
2. Taking Care of Your Health
If you take on too much, you will get stressed, which may result in burnout. Be cautious as you take on new opportunities, and ensure that you are capable of undertaking them.
Often, we get carried away trying to finish everything and forget that our mental health is also extremely important.
Forgive and move on! If you miss a deadline or a meeting it is not the end of the world. Take a deep breath and keep going.
Take care of your physical health by taking active breaks. Exercise is a great stress-buster.
3. Knowing Your Strengths and Weaknesses and Asking for Help
Listen to yourself. Be honest with yourself! Do not force anything onto yourself.
Asking for help is one of the biggest resources you have. If you fell behind in class or practice, you can ask a friend or your instructor for assistance!
Partake in activities that you like! If you choose an activity that you do not enjoy, you will see it as a chore.
Sometimes these tips are not enough, and you may still need an escape. Occasionally, I need to calm my brain and reduce stress. Maintaining a balance between schoolwork and extracurriculars is challenging enough, but its difficulty will further increase if your stress builds up over time. Here are some stress-relieving activities that I find work:
4. Getting Fresh Air
Go outside and clear your head; maybe listen to music or read a book. Being outside can be an escape from reality and can give you time to think clearly.
5. Arts and Crafts
It may sound childish, but arts and crafts can be an amazing outlet. The next time you feel stressed, give it a try! The key is to not focus on the outcome, it does not matter what the finished product is, what matters is the process.
6. Take a rest day
Everyone's rest-day looks different. For some it may be sleeping, for some, it may be binging a new Netflix show, maybe it is baking all day! Whatever your outlet may be, take a day for yourself. Try to eliminate all stress-inducers from your environment and simply relax.
Over time you will find out what works for you. It is not an overnight change, it is a process. Please remember that you are not alone and you have a circle of support. It is okay to ask for help and it is important to take care of yourself. I hope these tips help you achieve your goals.
Edited by Ally Chan.
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Mahi is a freshman in high school. She’s from Ontario, Canada and loves the Toronto Raptors and loves to sing and play guitar. She loves all music and enjoys reading! She hopes that you find some tips to help you manage workloads better!