It can be difficult to stay on top of school and extracurricular activities. Still, it is essential to take care of yourself physically and mentally in order to be successful in your academic endeavors and at the recreational activities you choose to participate in. However, it’s up to you to decide how to choose your priorities, then create a schedule so that reflects those priorities while still allowing for plenty of time to complete your schoolwork. It can be tempting to blow off your studies, but you’ll only be hurting yourself in the long run. If you need some help finding balance, keep reading to find out what you can do to manage school and extracurriculars.
How do you manage school and extracurricular activities?
There are a few compelling reasons why you should consider obtaining scholarships as a high-school student. The most obvious benefit is that scholarships will give you more free time in college. Instead of having to work a job to pay for tuition, you can focus on your studies, spend time with your friends, or join a few extracurricular clubs that interest you. This is a huge advantage, since you’ll be able to get more out of your college education. It’s never too early to start looking, there are even scholarships for high school sophomores. If you’re eligible to join any high school honor societies or academic programs that offer scholarship opportunities, it’s worth doing the work now to reap the rewards later.
If you’re able and interested, you may want to incorporate an outdoor activity into your routine. Something like taking bodyboarding lessons, which will give you an engaging and unique way to stay active. Spending time in nature has also been proven to lower cortisol levels and alleviate stress. While a lot of emphasis gets placed on academic extracurriculars, there is a lot of value in athletics and sports, particularly when you take into account the physical health benefits they also provide.
No matter what activities you decide to attempt, you need to make schedule and stick to it. This means setting aside time for homework, studying, socializing, and relaxing. Invest in a durable planner to map out your schedule for a week or even a month at a time. You need to continually remind yourself to be realistic about how much time you have. Don’t try to cram too much into one day. Instead, break things down into manageable tasks that you’ll be able to accomplish. You’re also more likely to forget about a meeting or show up late if you schedule too many events close together.
What can students do to avoid excessive stress?
Lack of sleep is a major issue that affects millions of people all over the world, with students being one of the most impacted populations. Sleep deprivation is a serious health condition that can materially affect your physical and mental health. It can cause problems such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. It can also increase your likelihood of developing mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. If you’re struggling to get enough sleep on a consistent basis, you should talk to your parents or your doctor about what you can do to identify and address the underlying cause of your sleeplessness.
One thing that isn’t discussed often enough is that students are often managing their own finances for the first time in high school and college. Learning how to budget is imperative if you want to avoid unnecessary stress and take care of yourself. Always make sure you have a little extra money saved for emergencies. You never know when you might need to pay for a car repair or new phone. Creating a budget can be a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort for how much it will improve your organizational skills and reduce your anxiety.
Balancing your extracurriculars with schoolwork can be difficult, but it is definitely worth it in the end. You can make it easier on yourself by planning out your time well. If you know that you have a lot of homework due on a certain day, then try to plan your extracurricular activities around that. Don’t agree to extra time shooting hoops with your friends on the day before a final exam. That way, you won’t have to worry about juggling too many things at once. Committing to a healthy lifestyle that gives you the energy and nutrition you need to carry out all your activities, during and after school, is a requirement if you want to balance your homework and your favorite extracurricular clubs.