Balancing a job, academics, and activities is one of the biggest challenges that high school students face. On top of all of that, we still need to somehow make time for our family, our friends, our hobbies, and (this is often overlooked) ourselves. We have compiled a list of ways that you can stay on top of it all and avoid burnout, with genuine advice from LHS Students.
1. Keep a form of organization
It can be extremely hard to remember everything going on. Keeping a planner, calendar, or some form of organization is highly recommended.
“I love my color coded calendar, it’s my baby. I also am a big spreadsheet person,” said Emma Roskelley, Senior.
Senior Valen Orrick agrees, saying, “I really couldn’t do it without a planner with the amount of workload.”
2. Prioritize
You can’t always do everything at once when you have to balance school, activities, and work. Sometimes, students have to acknowledge the fact that some things need to get done first, and you need to allot time.
Junior Cate Whalen suggests that you, “Make sure you have at least one day a week to focus on homework and if you have an off period, really use that.”
“I always save at least Sunday to work on my academics. I also work on it during my job, when I’m on breaks,” said Liv Croci, Junior.
“I can’t do a ton of homework on Tuesdays or Saturdays [during my job] but I make sure to prioritize. I have to pull some late nights though,” admitted Orrick. “Get what’s due closest done first, as well as bigger projects.”
Junior Chloe Julien said, “It’s hard, but I think I’m good at allocating time. When I get home, I spend 30 minutes home and then do all of my homework.” It’s good to monitor your screen time, so you can focus on the things that matter most.
3. Don’t overwork yourself
Burning out is always a concern, and it is important to not overschedule yourself.
“Know what you’re able to take on, because I do take on a lot, but I also know my limits… And with that, you also have to learn to be able to say no and turn down certain things so you don’t end up burning out,” suggests Roskelley.
Nate Melendez, Junior, said, “Mostly try not to ask for too many shifts at work, don’t overload yourself with too much even if you think it’ll be okay, and take lots of naps! Doing more than one thing at the same time, especially when there are deadlines, is stressful so it’s important to give yourself downtime so your performance is great.”
When asked about whether balancing everything takes a toll on her mental health, Liv said, “1,000 percent. It’s hard to give your 100% all of the time… my friends and I talk all the time about how much homework we have to do… I know a lot of my friends relate to that.” This is why it is so important to give yourself breaks and grace.
4. Find your WHY
Staying motivated is key. It can be hard to find a reason to continue balancing work, school, and activities, but it is crucial that you do.
When asked what’s motivating him to keep working and doing school at the same time, Melendez answered, “To make money to fund my future career.”
“I love being in leadership positions. It helps me stay organized and get motivation,” said Roskelley. “I also have a good community and they help me out.”
For Croci, “It is worth it for me because I can’t just be doing school the full time, it’s good to get other stuff going in your life.”
5. Have fun!
Having fun is scientifically proven to improve your mental health. Just because you are busy all of the time doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and hang out with your friends. Also be sure to find calming things that you enjoy.
“Sometimes to relax myself I listen to music in my car,” said Melendez.
“Just take advantage of high school. It’s fun! Don’t be fixated on grades. I know they are important, but also you are only in high school once,” added Croci.
