This month, many Blazers are asking, “How do I balance school
and sports?” or “How do I balance my social life with clubs and schoolwork?” This question encompasses a lot of emotions that many of us are feeling right now. Here are a few tips that may help you feel less overwhelmed and more ready to take on each new day!
First, I want to assure everyone that these feelings are 100% OK! Whether it is your first year or your fourth, everyone is learning and growing throughout high school. My first piece of advice is to stop and take a deep breath! Studies show that most people’s stress response includes shallow breathing. Taking deep breaths helps control the nervous system and helps the body to relax. Having a calm and clear mindset can help when you feel overwhelmed and will help you be able to accomplish everything on your to-do list.
Another tip is to practice organization and time management. We have all heard it countless times but being organized is one of the most important ways to manage tasks in an orderly fashion. Keeping things color coded for classes, writing due dates and events in a planner, and setting academic goals are a couple strategies to balance social and school events. Managing and completing schoolwork allows more free time to be able to attend even more social events or join more extracurriculars. Even though it might be harder for some students, completing work as it gets assigned will keep you on track and help you avoid unnecessary procrastination.
Finally, have fun! School work is meant to be challenging but it is not meant to cause extreme stress and constant pressure. Take study breaks and allow yourself to determine specific times to get work done, to hang out with friends, and, especially, time to rest! Being involved in academics and extracurriculars takes a lot of time and energy, so allowing time to relax will keep you energized and help avoid burnout. It may seem like there are so many things you want to be involved in, but prioritize what is most important to you and focus on those things. If you feel like you need time to catch up and recharge, it is beneficial to learn to say “no” to taking on more responsibilities. You might have to say no to a social event or extra club to #keepthepeace!
Finding balance is all about prioritizing and organizing the most important task. Even if it seems overwhelming, it is helpful to look at the positive side of things. Instead of getting frustrated, think of how grateful you are to have the opportunity to participate in so many amazing extracurricular or social activities, in and out of NDP!
If you would like to submit any questions for upcoming Sisterly Advice articles, click on the link below to submit! All your submissions will remain anonymous, but it you submit anything about hurting yourself or others, a counselor must be notified. If you are feeling that way, please reach out for help!