How to Juggle Exercising With School

How to Juggle Exercising With School

Julia Strasius, News/Design Editor

One may struggle with making time to workout because of a busy schedule filled with projects that need to be finished or extracurricular meetings. However, taking even ten minutes out of one’s day to stay active can really benefit an individual’s mental and physical health. Here are a few tips one can use to manage their time between school and exercise.

1. Prioritize 

One should prioritize school in order to get good grades and prepare for the future. However, exercising acts as an additional step towards success. Taking the time to hit the gym or walk outside can help one clear their mind and feel re-energized. Exercising can also help reduce risks of anxiety and depression and improve sleep patterns, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are feeling frustrated with school or a long assignment, use exercise as a way to clear your head and take your mind off of it.

2. Make Time

Especially for juniors, managing different activities and extracurriculars may feel like a difficult task. However, if one cannot make it to the gym or a park, doing a ten minute workout at home serves as a great solution. Many YouTube channels, such as MadFit or Pamela Reif, offer short and effective workouts. Know what schoolwork you still need to complete and try and knock out as much of it as you can so you can enjoy yourself later.

3. Create a Schedule

Creating a schedule to manage time and activities helps one stay organized and find time to set aside to workout. At first, adjusting to this schedule may feel difficult, due to the unpredictability of both life and school. However, just use the schedule as a guideline to healthier habits, and if a workout or activity on the schedule is missed, do not worry about it. 

Although balancing exercise and school may seem difficult, it is much easier than one would think! Taking time to improve oneself and one’s mental health is a must. If one cannot make it to a gym, a simple walk outside in the warm weather or an at-home workout act as easy solutions. Prioritize, make time and adjust.