How to Manage Extracurricular Activities and Still Perform Well in School

Fulfilling all of your school obligations on top of your extracurricular activities might seem overwhelming or daunting at first, but it is definitely possible as long as you stay organized and manage your time well. First, remember that your academic work comes before anything. That’s the whole purpose of being in school in the first place. You’ll see that once you complete your assignments and prepare for exams, there’s still plenty of time left in the day. Use this time to participate in extracurricular activities, so you can stay social and healthy and become more competitive for future applications whether it is college, graduate school or even jobs.

Sports

Sports are a very popular choice among students who seek extracurricular activities outside of their academic obligations. Be sure to remember that schoolwork is of the utmost importance, and sports are there to facilitate your academic career and not get in the way of it. Students who pursue contact sports, such as football and hockey, however, must be careful.

Younger athletes are highly susceptible to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a clumping protein inside your brain that can kill brain cells. CTE can impact a person’s behavior, mood and memory and cause impaired thinking/judgment and dementia in the long term. If you’re playing contact sports, it’s important to wear protective gear, especially for your head, because wearing a helmet can lessen the chances of getting CTE.

Theater

Another popular extracurricular activity is the theater. Working in theater as either an actor, stagehand, writer, musician/singer or anything else is a lot of work. It requires a great deal of energy, time and focus. It might seem overwhelming at first, but as long as you write out your schedule and manage your time consistently, you’ll be fine. If you commit three hours to your schoolwork, make sure you commit yourself to that time. If you finish all your assignments before the three hours are up, you can apply to colleges or scholarships during that time. Use your time productively and wisely.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care is very important during this period. You’re learning how to multitask and balance a number of things at once, but you can’t do it if you don’t take care of your body, mind and spirit. Be sure to get plenty of sleep. An average of seven to nine hours of sleep a night will work wonders for you. Get a planner, and stay organized. This is also a practice in self-care because you’re managing your time in a way that is ideal for your performance. Also, remember to eat well. Don’t skip meals. Bring snacks, and make sure they’re nutritional and balanced. Taking care of yourself will allow you to perform at your optimal level in school and extracurricular activities.

Balancing academia with extracurricular activities is possible as long as you protect yourself, practice self-care and learn to use your time wisely. Keep in mind that your academic success comes before your extracurricular activities. Remember this whenever you find yourself stuck between these two worlds.

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