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Time Management Tips for Student-Athletes

FEB. 13, 2011-Coral Gables, Florida, U.S - Duke Blue Devils Forward Mason Plumlee (5) dunks the ball during the game between Miami and Duke at Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Florida.The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Miami Hurricanes 81-71. Photo: Luis Blanco

While browsing the internet, you will find many time management tips for students. However, when you are a student-athlete, you will have a hard time adopting these tips. The main reason for this is that as a student-athlete, you will often be busier than everyone else. So, you need tips that factor in your practice sessions, your academics, and your social life. In this article, we have an answer for you that will help you manage your time well and maintain excellence in your studies and athletics.

  • Make Practice a Priority

If you wish to be successful in athletics, you have to make practice a priority. It is cliché to use the phrase practice makes perfect but that does not reduce its relevance in life. When you commit to practice, you improve on a daily basis. You may not be able to tell or note the difference. However, with time, people start to notice your growth. To make practice a priority, you need to stick to a strict schedule. You need to be wise in the way you allocate time to different activities. Practice needs to be among the activities that take a significant amount of your time. But, you should never forget your studies as well. As you commit to practice, also remember your homework and assignments. These can be an impediment to your practice schedule. If, for example, you need to write a research paper, and time is not on your side, you should consider working with professional writing services. These will deliver quality work and allow you the time you need for practice. 

  • Plan

If you want to understand the importance of time, start planning your life. As a student-athlete, this should not be news to you. Without proper planning, you are sure to miss out on a few practices, run late on assignments, and send apologies for social gatherings. What the above tells you is you need to use a planner or a calendar. Using either of these time management tools will be of great help to you especially with regard to beating deadlines. A planner or a calendar will help you plan your life to the last detail. You will not miss a practice session or be late for any class. If you are struggling with how to balance school and sports, look no further than a planner or a calendar. 

  • Do your tasks in chronological order

Assignments can make you have a bad day or week or semester. However, this is only true for students who are not keen on time management. As a student-athlete, one way you can avoid the panic and sweating that comes as a result of approaching deadlines is to do your assignments in chronological order. What this means is that you have to start working on the assignments that have shorter deadlines first. This will help you avoid assignment buildup that will, in turn, cause you to deliver poor quality work. As an athlete, you will not only have enough time to read but also practice. However, if you find yourself in instances where several assignments have conflicting deadlines, you can make use of the online essay service Essay Basics

  • Do not procrastinate

This is by far one of the most crucial student-athlete time management tips. This tip applies to everyone at whichever stage in life. Procrastination is the root cause of some of the major issues in the world today. People love the idea of postponing tasks: you have an assignment but decide to work on it later; you have a practice session but decide to take a part in it later. As a student-athlete, the more you procrastinate, the higher the chances you will fail to turn up for practice. Also, the higher the chances your athletics career will end up in regret and disappointment. So, fight the temptation to procrastinate and you will lead a peaceful and stress-free life.   

  • Do not overburden yourself

Successful student-athletes know their limitations. You cannot do everything. This is one statement that many people never want to hear but one that can be of great help to you. As a student-athlete, you already have too much on your plate. That volunteer work could be good for your resume. However, will you be able to include it in your schedule without dealing a blow to your academics or athletics? It is good to want to join clubs and groups that will help you develop in various aspects of your life. But, you need to be wise and ask yourself whether you are taking on too many responsibilities. If the answer is yes, then limit your roles to help maintain a healthy balance of athletics and academics. 

  • Communicate with your professor

The biggest mistake students make is not making good use of the resources they have around them. Your professors are one resource that you need to make good use of. One surprising fact about them is that they are always willing and ready to help students. As a student-athlete, you should befriend your professors. Let them know your aspirations and seek help whenever possible. There are some who will take their time to share their story with you. Through your interactions with them, you will end up learning a lot about life in general, your studies, and even time management. If, for example, you are a huge basketball fan and your assignment revolves around the same, you can seek advice from one who shares in your interest. You may also consider the option of buying basketball essay topics and examples from custom essay writing platforms. Regardless of your decision, it is crucial to know and develop a relationship with your professors.

  • Sleep Well

If you want to become a productive student-athlete, you need to sleep well. This can only happen if you maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Nothing should interrupt your sleep. Good sleep will help you maintain a positive attitude during practice as well as in your studies. As a time management tip for student-athletes, this is quite crucial. Sleep influences your health and wellbeing. So, if you are not maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, you may end up feeling lethargic and out of touch most of the time. To avoid the above, get enough sleep. 

In conclusion, as a student-athlete, you will have a tough time in school if you will not develop proper time management skills. As you continue in your studies with a carefree attitude, you will find it difficult to balance your studies and sports. A plan will help you maintain balance. Taking time to do your tasks instead of procrastination will also help ensure you have time for practice. Last but not the least, take time to rest. Your body deserves a good sleep.

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