10 Pieces of Advice: How to stay organized with practice and a busy school schedule

Written By: Eliana Marostica, Haydenettes Synchronized Skating Team

It comes to no surprise that living the life of a student-athlete is constantly busy. If one were to ask a synchronized skater when their off-season is, they’d say spring time however, tryouts and clinics happen the moment the season is over. Skaters are truly involved in a year-round sport and must stay organized with their school work on top of practices, competitions and exhibitions. A DREAM member from the Haydenettes shares 10 pieces of advice to help developing athletes stay organized with the demands of practice and their school schedule.

Use a planner: Notebook, agenda, a phone app, anything
Write important dates in your planner as soon as you know of them, such as tests, quizzes, and skating competitions, so that you are aware of them ahead of time and they aren’t unexpected.
You can have fun with your planner! Write down some of your favorite inspiring quotes ahead of time on test days or competition weeks. Balancing school and skating can get stressful at times and you never know when stumbling upon one of your favorite inspirational quotes can be exactly what you need that day to keep you motivated and ready to work hard at practice or study for that test.
When it comes to competition weeks, talk to your teachers a week before you leave so that they know ahead of time. Chances are that they will want to help you. This is super important when it comes to not falling behind during competition season.
Speaking of falling behind, stay on top of assignments and try your best not to fall behind because balancing school and skating becomes much harder when you feel like you’re constantly trying to catch up.
Write your homework and assignments down when your teacher gives them to you so that you don’t have to worry about remembering them when you’re at practice. This was you can be 100% focused at practice without worrying about what you have to do after.
Get assignments done as soon as you can. Waiting until the last minute to work on an assignment can lead to higher stress and a bad night’s rest. It also pushes back other assignments and creates a never-ending cycle. Low stress and sleep are very important for doing your best at every practice.
Keep a running, realistic To-Do list. Checking things off of a To-Do list can help you keep track of your progress and keep you from forgetting homework assignments or tasks. Plus, it is surprisingly satisfying and you will end the day feeling accomplished!
Keep your schedule with you throughout the day and of course, don’t forget to plan in some free time to wind down during the day. A little relaxation everyday can help you from burning out too quickly.
Sometimes balancing school and skating can get stressful. Remember to take it day-by-day and week-by-week. One task, one step, and one goal at a time!