Finding Time in a Jam-Packed Schedule: A Teenage Athlete’s Guide
take the time to mark out your activities as glass or rubber. your focus should then shift on making sure that the glass activities do not fall
Last week, one of my players, a young ambitious 14-year-old, came up to me after practice to ask me how can he balance his basketball with his academics and social life.
It’s a dilemma that is faced by teens all over the world. So, what is the best way to handle such a dilemma?
Here are my thoughts:
Being a teenager means juggling your sports, family events, school work, friends and romantic lives. It seems like everything is a priority. The truth, however, is that not everything can be a priority - and that’s okay.
1. The Art of Prioritisation: What Really Matters?
Imagine your daily tasks as a bunch of balls you’re juggling.
Some of these balls are made of glass (your sports training, your studies, your health); while others are made of rubber (like catching the latest movie or scrolling through social media).
The key? Know which ones you absolutely can’t drop.
Action Step: Take a quiet moment to list out your daily activities. Mark them as ‘glass’ or ‘rubber.’ Focus on keeping the glass ones in the air first.
2. Mastering the Calendar: Your New Best Friend
Your phone’s calendar isn’t just for birthdays and doctor’s appointments.
It can be your time-managing wizard. Blocking out specific hours for study, training, and yes, rest, can magically reveal pockets of time you didn’t know you had.
Action Step: Schedule your week in advance. Be realistic and include downtime. You need to recharge.
3. The Power of 'No': Being Okay with Missing Out
Saying ‘no’ might feel like you’re turning down the chance to create memories, but it’s also saying ‘yes’ to your goals and well-being.
It’s about making peace with missing that hangout if it means passing tomorrow’s test with flying colours or nailing your practice session.
Action Step: Practice saying no to things that fall into the ‘rubber’ category. It will get easier with time.
4. Quality Over Quantity: Efficient Training and Studying
The Pomodoro technique is about getting focused bursts of work followed by short breaks.
Applying this to your studies and even your training can ramp up your efficiency, leaving you with more free time than you’d expect.
Action Step: Try breaking down study and practice sessions into focused 25-minute blocks with 5-minute breaks in between.
5. Communication: Looping in Your Support System
You are not the only one going through this.
Your coaches, teachers, and family are part of your team. Keeping them in the loop about your schedule can help them understand your commitments and support you better.
Action Step: Have a chat with your support system. Discuss your goals and how they can help you achieve them.
It’s Your Circus, Manage it Wisely
Balancing your life is no small feat.
It’s like being the ringmaster of your personal circus. But with a little bit of planning, prioritisation, and the courage to say no, you’ll find that you can manage the chaos and maybe even have time to spare for those moments that matter most.
Don’t get caught up in the “Fear of Missing Out” trap. Focus on doing the things that matter the most well and let the hours work for you, and not against you.