High school comes with many new responsibilities that extend from Advanced Placement testing to work and extracurriculars. It is always said to us that our top priority should be school and homework, but in some cases that is not possible. External factors can sometimes impede on our work schedule, but balance is the ultimate key when it comes to reaching our full academic potential.
There is so much going on in the world at the moment that we might feel compelled to take on more than we can handle. When we see ourselves wanting to take on a plethora of work, it is important to pause for a second and think about the grand scheme of things. We should always take into account our future schedule and ask how this new activity will fit into it, something that might seem simple still has deadlines that have to be met and can add to the feeling of overwhelmingness.

“I always do my homework at least a day before it is due. Normally after I attend my club meetings, I try to get all of my homework done before my other extracurriculars,” sophomore Trip Beardslee said.

In order to not break down due to stressful situations, you can manage your time. Here are some tips to easily balance your activities, homework, sports and social life.

1. Plan your week! On Saturday, Sunday or Monday, take five minutes of the day to write out everything that needs to get done during the week. By doing this, you are less likely to get overwhelmed as the week progresses and work piles up. For instance, if you were to have a meeting on a Tuesday afternoon, creating a schedule will remind you to get homework done before the meeting.
2. Do not waste valuable time. The half hour spent scrolling through TikTok and other social media could have been used to finish the history notes or start your math homework. Instead of using the little pockets of time to “take a break,” do your work before rewarding yourself. These 15 minute pauses could be used to be productive, a lot can get done instead of allowing the work to pile up for later.
3. Reward yourself when you have completed a task on your weekly planner. Eat your favorite snack or chat with your friend once you finish the bulk of your work for the day. Properly using your downtime to unwind leaves you feeling refreshed for when returning to your work. These rewards should not be overused though. Though it is tempting, do not watch the rest of Grey’s Anatomy season 15 when there is a test waiting for you the next day. Watch Netflix after the test is done, rewards feel better when they are actually earned.

“I keep an agenda to stay organized and I do my work whenever I have the opportunity so I don’t have to stay up late. I have to stay ahead in order not to fall behind and be overloaded with work,” junior Sabrina Bonavita said.

In the end, balance all comes down to understanding your own work ethic. If you benefit from working all day and using the next day purely for rest, then go for it. The only way to improve time management is to find a schedule that works best for you and building off of it. These tips might not be one size fits all, but you can always attempt to modify them to see what is most comfortable and productive for you. Though school can be demanding at times, knowing how to work with it instead of against it can make the biggest difference in life.