4 Ways to Balance Academics and Extracurricular Activities

A healthy balance of academics and extracurricular activities is key to a successful college experience. An imbalance causes poor performance in one area but can lead to stress and anxiety in both. Here are four tips in juggling academics with extracurriculars.

Academics Come First

While extracurricular activities are important, academics come first. Your first responsibility is getting those high grades and learning all you can from your classes – the primary reason for going to college is to take classes and do well in them! It is not enough to just do well on the tests; you must learn the material in order to be able to apply it after graduating from college.

Develop a Schedule

Plan out what needs to be done and when it needs to be finished. Prioritize your activities so you don’t leave anything important for last. When scheduling, be sure to schedule around your classes and be sure to leave plenty of studying time before scheduling extracurriculars.

Be Picky about Extracurricular Activities

Do not join every club or organization your campus offers – it will be a big drain on your time and chances are you won’t be interested in most of them. Choose wisely among those you are truly interested in and those that will help you on your way to success. It is best to pick no more than three or four activities and focus on them through obtaining leadership positions.

Take Breaks

While getting an A on an exam is a great goal, don’t overdo it. Too much studying especially for long periods of time is just as bad as too little. Study in segments of 45 minutes to an hour with a break of five to ten minutes. Take time to stretch and recharge with a snack. This helps you maintain concentration level and ensures maximum retention of material.

Following these pointers can make for a great college year but along with scheduling academics and extracurriculars, don’t forget to make time for fun!

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