Daily Grind articles are posted every Wednesday to provide a look into a day in the life of a college athlete and to give an example of time management skills.

An average day for a college athlete is going to be different depending on the division they play, the school they go to, and their personal responsibilities. That said, all college athletes know that every day is a daily grind so it's a good idea as a high school athlete to know what you're signing yourself up for if you want to compete in college. This is my daily grind as a D3 soccer player at Illinois Wesleyan University during an average day of our offseason. 

8:30 AM: Wake Up and Eat Breakfast

First off, I wake up and head to the cafeteria with some friends to get breakfast. Usually, eggs and fruit with water or coffee is my go-to.

Related: Recipes for Athletes: The Breakfast Burrito of Champions

9:00 AM-11:30 AM: Classes

From breakfast, it's straight to classes for the day. I have 2 classes back to back almost every day to get them done early.

11:30 AM-1:00 PM: Lunch and Work

I work a job at my school so after class, I grab a quick lunch and head over to my job most days.

Related: 11 Ways To Perfect Your Time Management Skills as a College Athlete

1:00 PM-3:00 PM: Team Lifts

Then straight from work, I head to our athletic center where I have a team weight room session and get a good workout in with the guys. 

3:00 PM-7:00 PM: Homework, Downtime, and Dinner

During this time after the team lifts, I have the time to get a shower, do homework, and just relax for a little while. I also eat dinner with friends at some point during this time.

Related: Need a Pick-Me-Up? 5 Easy Meals or Snacks for Athletes

7:00 PM-9:00 PM: Optional Futsal

At 7:00, we have an optional futsal session where we can get extra touches in and work on our team chemistry. If I'm not at futsal, it usually means I have more homework, a project, or a test I have to study more for.

9:00 PM-11:00 PM: Downtime and Sleep

After futsal, I have time to do any work or studying I might have decided to put off in order to go to futsal, relax and hang out with my girlfriend/friends, or get to sleep for an early night.

What's a day in your life like? Share your Daily Grind at [email protected]

* Originally published on February 8, 2023, by Scott Abramson