Being a college athlete means you have to wear many hats: athlete, student, friend, teammate, intern, and the list goes on. It can be stressful having to manage so many responsibilities at once, which is why it's important to find a good rhythm to keep up with your hectic schedule. Here are a few tips that can help:

Rest Days

When you have a lot on your plate, the last thing on your mind is to take a day of rest. However, it is the most important thing you can do for both your physical and mental health. Especially as an athlete, you need to give your body time to recharge. Working out every day can do more harm to your muscles than good and taking a mental break is also just as important as a physical one. You should ideally have one full day a week where you have no obligations and can make time for activities that you love. If you cannot take a full day, taking a 20 minute to an hour break can be beneficial as well. Put your pencil down and your phone on silent and go for a short walk. You will be surprised how little breaks such as that can do wonders for your health!

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Prioritize Tasks 

Making a list of your responsibilities from most important to least or tailoring it around deadlines can help declutter your mind. For instance, if you have a paper that is due on Friday, carve out time to work on it on Monday and pencil it onto your calendar. Taking a half an hour or so to work on an assignment each day means you can chip away at it slowly and it will be less daunting than having to finish it all in one day. If you have an 8am class the next morning, it may be best to say no to going out the night before so you can get adequate rest. Part of setting yourself up for success is taking the time to structure and execute a plan, so investing in a planner may help you to calm the storm inside your mind when it comes to your crazy schedule.

Related: Being a College Athlete is Stressful–Check out These 5 Tips for a Healthy Work/Life Balance

Find a Mentor

Having someone in your life, whether it be someone you converse with daily or an athlete that you look up to, can be a great way to healthily manage stress. If you have seen another college athlete juggle a crazy schedule, it means that you can, too! Having a therapist or a friend to confide in that may help you sort out your struggles can be beneficial as well.

While it can be challenging to have a college athlete's schedule, it is not impossible to manage. Try practicing these tips listed – your mind and body will thank you!
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* Originally published on November 30, 2022, by Kelly Wick