How I Balance Studies and CCA as a Student Athlete

Singapore's education system is renowned for its rigorous curriculum of producing outstanding results. As students here, we often feel the intense pressure to excel academically, driven by the kiasu culture that pushes us to outdo one another. This relentless competition can make it seem like academic achievement is our only priority.

As a student athlete here, I’ve felt the intense pressure to excel academically while also staying committed to my sport and other extracurricular activities. It often feels like you have to choose between achieving academic excellence and fully participating in your extracurricular passions. It felt like choosing one meant sacrificing the other. 

With almost 10 hours every week dedicated to extracurriculars, I constantly feel the pressure to catch up on schoolwork. This often means staying up late to study or using every free minute at school to get some revision done. Most days, I barely have time to hang out with friends or relax with my hobbies. It’s exhausting, especially when exams are around the corner, and everything starts piling up.

On top of that, as a student-athlete, it’s not just about going to class and studying — I also have to focus on my training. Sometimes that means finding extra time outside of school to train for competitions. It’s a constant struggle to find the right balance between doing well academically and committing to my sport.

However, it wasn’t until I started polytechnic that I realised it’s possible to balance both my studies and extracurricular activities without sacrificing my mental or physical well-being.

Here’s how I manage to juggle it all as a student athlete

1. Time Management is Key

Balancing academics with other responsibilities can be challenging for busy students, especially for student athletes. I believe effective time management is key to juggling school work, extracurricular activities, and personal life. 

The first thing I did was work on managing my time better. Instead of just doing whatever was urgent, I started planning ahead. I created a weekly schedule that mapped out both my study sessions and my training. Having a structured plan makes it easier to see when I have pockets of free time, which I could then use more productively. By assigning specific time slots for each subject, I was able to avoid the stress of last-minute cramming and stay on top of everything. It wasn’t easy at first, but over time, I found my rhythm.

I also started using to-do lists and task management apps to keep track of everything. Prioritising tasks became a game-changer for me—I would tackle high-priority tasks first, making sure to complete them on time, which significantly reduced my stress.

For bigger tasks, I learned to break them down into smaller, more manageable steps and set achievable goals for each study session. Rather than cramming for a test the night before, I’d review my notes in short sessions spread over a few days. This took a lot of pressure off, especially during exam season when everything felt like it was piling up. This way, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by everything I had to do.

Using time blocks for different activities also helped me stay on top of things. Whether it was study, assignments, or personal activities, having set time frames for everything kept me focused and organised. I even found that handling easy tasks immediately prevented small things from piling up and making me feel swamped.

But time management wasn’t just about studying. I made sure to schedule in some “me” time—whether it was going for a short walk, hanging out with friends, or even just watching a quick show. These small breaks helped me recharge and prevented burnout.

2. Staying Motivated

Balancing studies and extracurricular activities can be difficult, especially when long study sessions start to feel overwhelming. Hence, it is important to stay motivated and productive when studying so that you can enjoy your other activities with a clearer mind without any worries.

Tips:

1. Break Down Big Tasks: I break my study sessions into smaller, manageable segments with specific objectives. I also keep a visible to-do list on my desk, and then striking off completed tasks would give me a sense of achievement. This approach helps me stay focused and makes studying feel less like a chore. This tip can help you kill 2 birds with 1 stone, not only can this help you manage your time better, this can also make you feel more motivated. 

2. The Pomodoro Technique: Long study sessions can be draining. To overcome this sian feeling, I use the Pomodoro Technique: study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four cycles, there is a longer break of 15-30 minutes. This method helps me stay focused and prevents burnout, and I look forward to the longer breaks to stay motivated. 

(I like to use this website https://pomofocus.io/)

3. Use Active Learning: Techniques like summarising concepts, teaching concepts to others, or making flashcards keep my brain actively engaged with my materials and improve my retention. If making your own flashcards feel like a chore, AI tools can help you create them, freeing up time for you to enjoy your extracurricular activities without compromising your studies.

4. Stay Hydrated and Eat Well: Remember to drink water and eat well so that you can stay energised and focused during your study sessions, especially long ones. 

5. Reward Yourself: I reward myself when I have completes a task or goal. Treating myself to my favourite snack, taking a short break, or watching an episode of a drama after completing a task keeps me motivated.

3. The Balanced Approach with Mindfulness

Research shows that mindfulness practices in education can transform one's study habits. And this I do agree with. By incorporating mindfulness techniques into your academic routine, you can enhance focus, reduce stress, and foster a more balanced approach to learning.

Before I get into the techniques I use to incorporate mindfulness into my study routine, I believe it is important to first understand what mindfulness really is about. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, without judgement. It involves paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and sensations with a sense of curiosity and acceptance. This practice can significantly benefit students by improving concentration, managing anxiety, and increasing overall well-being.

Techniques:

1. Mindful breathing: I start my study sessions with a few minutes of mindful breathing. I sit comfortably (body muscles relaxed), eyes closed, and I focus on my breath as I inhale deeply through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth. This simple practice helps calm my mind and set a focused tone for my study sessions.

2. Study breaks: I usually incorporate short, mindful breaks into my study routine (following the Pomodoro technique). Take a few minutes every hour to stretch, breathe deeply, or even just walk around for a quick reset. These breaks can help refresh my mind and prevent burnout.

3. Digital detox: I would take periodic digital detoxes, disconnecting from screens and engage in activities like taking a stroll around the neighbourhood or baking. This practice helps me clear my mental clutter and improves my concentration when doing assignments or revision. 

   
   

4. Creating a Productive Study Environment

A well-designed study environment can significantly impact your focus and productivity. Creating a space that fosters concentration and minimises distractions is essential for effective learning. As such, having a productive study environment has been crucial for me, and here’s how I’ve set up my space.

Tips:

• Choose a Quiet Location: I study in a quiet, comfortable area separate from relaxation or entertainment zones. This helps me stay focused and minimise distractions.

• Invest in Ergonomic Furniture: I use an ergonomic chair and desk to support good posture and comfort. Proper seating and desk height help prevent physical discomfort and improve focus.

• Ensure Adequate Lighting: Good lighting reduces eye strain and creates a conducive study environment. I prefer natural light, but if that’s not possible, I use a desk lamp with adjustable brightness.

• Keep It Organised: I maintain a clutter-free desk with storage solutions like shelves and drawers. An organised space reduces distractions and improves efficiency.

• Personalise Your Space: I add personal touches like inspirational quotes, plants, and artwork to make my study area more inviting and enjoyable.

• Minimise Distractions: I keep my phone out of reach and use apps to block distracting websites during study sessions. Noise-cancelling headphones are useful if there’s background noise.

• Create a Study Zone: I’ve designated a specific area in my home as my study zone. Consistently using this space for studying helps me associate it with productivity.

• Incorporate Study Tools: I equip my study space with essential tools like a whiteboard, stationery, and a planner. Having everything I need within reach enhances my efficiency.

Creating a productive study environment is key to maximising focus and efficiency. By choosing a quiet location, investing in ergonomic furniture, and keeping my space organised, I set myself up for successful study sessions.

5. Turning Learning into an Adventure

Imagine turning your study sessions into an engaging adventure where learning feels like play. I find incorporating elements of game design into educational activities – gamification – makes learning more dynamic and interesting, rather than the same old sit, read, do, repeat.

Strategies:

1. Educational games: I would find educational games that align with my curriculum to make studying or memorising a little bit more fun. I remember in Secondary school, my classmates and I would play this app that tested us on our chemical formulas. It was like a daily wordle for us, where we would quiz ourselves just for the fun of it.

2. Leaderboards & friendly competition: There are apps that allow friends to create a study group and it tracks how long each person studies for. An app that my class uses is YPT. We find that looking at each other’s study time motivates us to work harder. 

3. Progress Tracking: I use visual progress trackers to show how far I have come and what’s left to achieve. This helps me maintain motivation and provide a sense of accomplishment as I advance through my studies.

4. Sweet treats: Since I love to eat, I even use food as a form of milestone reward for me. After I run through my entire to-do list, I would treat myself to some snacks or dessert. Yum😋

By having fun while studying, we would feel less inclined to give up and start scrolling away on our phones. In fact, we would look forward to studying as a result. 

Balancing studies and extracurricular activities as a student athlete in Singapore is undoubtedly a challenging feat, given the high expectations of our education system and the pressures of our society. But from my experience, it’s clear that achieving this balance is not only possible but can also be rewarding with the right strategies in place.

By staying motivated with clear goals and effective study techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, incorporating active learning, and managing time wisely with to-do lists and structured schedules, you can maintain high academic performance while still engaging in extracurricular activities. Creating a productive study environment, minimising distractions, and incorporating mindfulness into your routine further support this balance by improving focus and reducing stress.

Ultimately, it’s about finding a harmonious approach that allows you to excel academically while also enjoying the full spectrum of your student life. With these tips and strategies, I’ve learned to balance the demands of studies and extracurriculars, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. Instead, you can achieve a fulfilling and successful student experience by mastering the art of balance.

Balancing studies and extracurriculars in Singapore is no walk in the park. With sky-high expectations and the constant pressure to outdo everyone else, it can feel like you have to choose between getting good grades and enjoying life. But from my own journey, I've found that it’s totally possible to nail both, as long as you have the right approach.

Staying motivated with clear goals, using smart study methods like the Pomodoro Technique, and keeping on top of tasks with to-do lists and study schedules really helps in managing both schoolwork and activities. Plus, setting up a good study space, cutting out distractions, and adding a bit of mindfulness into your routine makes a huge difference in reducing stress and staying focused.

In the end, it’s all about finding the right balance so you can ace your studies while also enjoying everything else that student life has to offer. With these strategies, I’ve managed to juggle my academics and extracurriculars without having to give up one for the other. So, trust me, you can definitely have a fulfilling and successful student experience if you find your own rhythm!

Annnnnddd that's how I balance my school life as a student athlete in Singapore.

No need for sleepless nights and restless days!😋🎉