Question : How to balance between sports and academics?Teentalker , 13-year-old
Dear Teentalker,
Thank you for attending the TeentalkIndia session at your school, for reaching out and sharing your concerns.
Being proactive and having a life outside academics and taking up sports is the key to overall development. This is extremely important as building on a variety of skills, other than just getting good marks is necessary, for you to do well in life.
However, the ‘other side’ of reality is the pressure to do well in studies; particularly due to the set-formula of getting good marks, then getting admitted to one of the best colleges, then graduating and finally landing up with a really good pay package and job in a prestigious organization. That’s how we’re all conditioned to think and so when we start growing older, the struggle to balance between sports and academics arises.
Here are a few things you need to think through, so that you can get the much needed clarity and learn to strike a balance between sports and academics:
1.What kind of sports do you enjoy playing? Do you devote a few hours or many hours to this particular game every day or week?
2. Do you plan on pursuing sports as a career or is it more like a favourite leisure activity? Are you currently playing or not playing the game at the state level, national or international level? Do you aspire to reach those levels, yes/no? If yes, then what is the timeline/goal you’ve set for yourself to get there?
3. How well do you think you’re performing on the academics (studies) front? Are your marks doing justice to your performance? Are you planning to pursue a career in any area related to academics? Work on ‘The MPS Process’ tool in order to learn more about yourself.
4.What are your short-term and long-term goals? Begin working on the SMART goals activity in order to get clarity.
5. Managing your time effectively is the key to doing well in different areas of your life and striking a balance. Learn to prioritize your tasks by working on the tool: ‘Time Management Matrix’. You can also work on ‘Motivational Interviewing’ tool in order to help you prioritize your exam preparation schedule