Striking a perfect balance between studies and extra-curricular activities is a challenge. Your parents expect you to excel in studies while your coaches push you hard to excel at extra-curricular activities. Poor performance in any one of these areas is bound to make you anxious and stressed. Are you one of those students who love both academics and extra-curricular activities? Are you wondering how to perform well academically while enjoying your activities? If yes, then here are a few tips to help you:
Do not Sacrifice Studies
Your wish-list of activities maybe endless but that does not mean you sacrifice your studies to fulfill those. Everything has its own value at different points of time in life. Thus, it is important to focus on the right thing at the right time. Remember, neglecting your studies under any circumstances may not be the correct course of action. In an interview, Rahul Dravid’s mother echoes this thought “Our aim was to keep our children perpetually busy in sports and studies so that they did not waste time on anything else. Their father always told them, ‘do whatever you want as long as you maintain first class grades’ and both our sons did just that.”
Develop a Proper Schedule
Plan your activities in advance. Do this at the beginning of your academic year. Divide your time; study in segments ranging from 45 minutes to an hour. Take a break of 5-10 minutes and then get back to studies. Studying at a stretch for longer duration can be taxing. Schedule your extra curricular activities; everyday keep an hour or two to pursue your favorite activities. This will ensure that you are not neglecting your studies. While preparing the schedule it’s important to understand what is important to you and what is not. Then work accordingly.
Maintain a Balance in your Life
Balance is important in every sphere of life. Maintaining a balance between studies and other activities will help in your overall physical and cognitive development. A study published in Journal of Educational Psychology found that participation in extra-curricular activities such as sports and sororities either enhance or reduce the academic motivation of a student. In such case, a balance between both is essential.
Question Yourself?
Ask yourself if you can multi-task? Can you manage extra-curricular activities with your studies on a daily basis? or, Is it a good idea to spend time on extra-curricular activities only on weekends and/or holidays? Answers to these questions will ultimately make you understand how effectively you can manage your time between the two.
As a student, it is important for you to utilize your time to the fullest. So, be realistic in your expectations and develop a plan accordingly. Hope these pointers will help you get a clearer picture of how to manage your studies and extra-curricular activities.
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