Lost Time Is Never Found Again

When I was looking around at potential colleges, the one thing that every team and coaching staff stressed to me was time management. At the time, I just brushed it off. I thought, "Yeah, I know how to manage my time." But these are crucial skills that will not only help you through your collegiate career but into whatever role you assume in your future. Developing these tools in high school will set you up for success in college.

Before we dive into time management tips, let's start with what you might not know. In 2017, the NCAA put in place legislation with a new time management plan for student-athletes. Its sole purpose is to create a balanced life between athletics, academics, and social experiences for student-athletes.  

Here is the breakdown of time spent during each week (168 hours) across the different Divisions:

When it comes to Athletics, Division I athletes report spending 38.5 hours per week on athletics. Division II, 32 hours and Division III, 28.5 hours.

Now let's take a look at Academics. Division I - 34 hours, Division II - 38.5 hours and Division III - 40.5 hours.

Lastly, let's look at socializing. Division I - 17.1 hours, Division II - 17.5 hours and Division III - 17.5 hours.

Athletes will generally spend the same amount of time socializing at each level, according to the NCAA. The difference is time spent with Athletics and Academics, both of which can be considered full-time jobs! So how do we go about making the most out of our time to ensure both Athletic and Academic success? Time Management skills!

Balancing athletics and academics in college is entirely different from high school. There isn't anyone to micro-manage you to complete assignments or schedule your study time. Lack of time management skills is where we can see some athletes become overwhelmed, stressed, and even experience depression. All of which can lead to lack of sleep, anxiety, poor nutrition, trouble concentrating, physical ailments, poor performance, and more. We have to stay on course and find ways to limit stressors while completing our academic and athletic responsibilities.

At my college, all first-semester Freshman were mandated to take ten hours of study hall weekly. This was the biggest blessing for me. It was time that I had to set aside to complete my school work. To be excused out for the next semester, you needed to have a certain GPA. Many of my teammates and fellow athlete friends would choose to put themselves back into study hall as a way to hold themselves accountable for their schoolwork, where they wouldn't be disturbed while they completed assignments. We also had a class that all student-athletes needed to take, which laid out the foundations of how to manage time to be successful. 

Time management tips:

Staying focused:

For me, when it was time to complete my coursework, I would put away anything that would distract me. Including my phone. I was much more efficient in my schoolwork when I wasn't checking my phone every two minutes. Spending thirty minutes completely involved with schoolwork is better than having the same work take an hour because you have stopped working five times to respond to messages/phone calls and need to refocus on the task at hand.  

Set a goal for yourself:

No, you don't need to say, "Today, I am going to complete the entire semester's course load!" These goals need to be reasonable and attainable. Something along the lines of, "This morning I will spend one-hour reading course material and one hour completing the work related to it." 

Create lists:

I am BIG into visuals. For me, there was nothing more satisfying than writing out a list in the morning and seeing everything crossed off during the day. My lists would include my class time, practice time, study hall time/when I was going to complete schoolwork, eating, and even when I would be taking a mental break!

Grab a planner:

This is another fantastic organizational tip for student-athletes. Each month, grab your planner and write down when all of your coursework is due throughout the month. I always preferred the monthly version so I could see when assignments were coming up a couple of weeks in advance so I could start working on them sooner rather than later, which would eliminate stress and anxiety. 

Know and be seen by professors: I cannot stress this enough! Taking the time to visit ALL of your professors, sit in the front of the class, and participate regularly goes a very long way. As athletes, we know that there may be a day where we cannot make a class due to a game or traveling arrangement. When you see there will be a conflict in your schedule with handing in an assignment, immediately notify the professor and plan to hand in the assignment BEFORE your game/travel. Explaining these circumstances to professors who know YOU and YOUR work ethic makes it a little bit easier.

ASK FOR HELP!

Heading off to college is a transition, and there can be a steep learning curve. It's 100% alright to ask for help. Get a tutor, get into a study hall, find resources that will aid your success.

Use downtime wisely:

Travel day? Grab your schoolwork and get some reading done during your traveling. Need some extra sleep to gear up for a big presentation or game, take a nap. Feeling low on energy? Grab a snack. Sore from practice the day before? Spend twenty minutes stretching before bed. 

Using these tools for time management can limit stress and anxiety and increase both your athletic and academic performance. These tools will help you in your collegiate career and beyond! Now, let's get to work!

Sources:

Admin. "Why Time Management Skills Are Important for College Athletes." Florida National University, 3 July 2019, www.fnu.edu/time-management-skills-important-college-athletes/. 

 Brutlag Hosick, Michelle. "2017 NCAA Convention Legislation: Division I." NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA, 13 Jan. 2017, www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/2017-ncaa-convention-legislation-division-i. 

"Depression (Major Depressive Disorder)." Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 3 Feb. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007.  

Smith, Jason. "Nine Time Management Tips from a DI Athlete." USA TODAY High School Sports, 15 Aug. 2017, usatodayhss.com/2017/nine-time-management-tips-from-a-di-athlete.