It’s back to school season! Time to catch up with friends, check out new courses and readjust to academic life. But when show rehearsals are added to classes and homework, how do you balance everything? Here are three time-management challenges—and actor-approved solutions!
- “I have so many activities, I don’t start my homework until 8 or 9 PM!”
Take a second to think about your activities. Do you enjoy them, or are you just building a resume for college? If it’s the second one, consider trimming your commitments to ones you really enjoy. This saves time, lets you focus on what you love, and gives you more time for sleep.
If you really enjoy all of your activities, then consider talking with your coaches, directors and teachers. Ask for help managing your time to fit everything in. Don’t be afraid to ask for extensions on assignments—teachers get what it’s like to have lots of activities, and will be impressed by you making healthy changes to your schedule.
FYI: the more sleep you get, the more active your brain is during the day. So, if you go to sleep earlier, you wake up more energized, and you can actually finish better quality homework, faster, than if you stayed up til midnight, cramming.
- “When I get an assignment due in two weeks, I end up doing it the night before!”
You know that horrible feeling when you haven’t started the huge project that’s due tomorrow? Avoid this by mapping out your week in advance. Find a calendar or academic planner you can write on. Write down your assignments and extracurriculars for each day. Break long-term assignments into smaller chunks that you can complete daily. Instead of finishing a 4-hour project the night before, try working on it for 30 minutes a day for two weeks. Doing small sessions of homework is often much more productive—and less stressful—than many hours of homework all at once.
- “I’m always studying or rehearsing: I have no time to relax!”
Just like your school day is divided up into classes, you need to divide your after-school time, as well. Build relaxation into your schedule to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The best times to fit this in are in the morning and at night. If you’re a morning person, try getting up a half hour earlier. Read or stretch to calm your mind before school starts. If you’re a night owl, spend the half hour before bed preparing for sleep by taking a relaxing bath or listening to soothing music. Winding down before bedtime puts your mind at peace and gives you better quality rest than crashing after cramming for a test.
Student life can be filled with time management challenges. Use them as opportunities to grow! Remember: learning to manage your time effectively takes practice. Be proud of yourself! Time management is a great skill for school—and for the stage.
Have more time management tips? Leave them in the comments below!