Can You Actually Balance Study and Extracurriculars?

At some point, whether you're in high school or uni, someone will give you this advice:

“Just drop everything and focus on your studies.”

No sport. No music. No volunteering or part-time work.

But here’s the thing. That advice doesn’t hold up.

Most students actually do better when they stay involved in the stuff they care about. Not because they’re superhuman, but because balance works. Keeping one or two commitments outside of study gives structure to your week, reduces stress, and stops you from burning out.

You don’t need to do everything. But you also don’t need to give it all up.

Are Extracurriculars Even Worth It?

Yes. Every time.

Extracurriculars aren’t just for resumes. They help you:

• Stay motivated and avoid burnout
• Improve memory, focus and emotional resilience
• Learn time management by default
• Stand out for early entry, scholarships and job applications

You don’t need a stacked schedule. Just some extracurricular activities outside of academics that feel like yours. A part of your week that you look forward to.

This isn’t about being “well-rounded” for the sake of it. It’s about doing what helps you feel like a human being while you study.

1. Find a Time Management Style That Works for You

Some students plan their entire week in 30-minute blocks. Others use a to-do list and fit tasks around training, shifts or classes.

There’s no right way to do it. But there is a wrong way, and that’s forcing yourself to follow a system that doesn’t suit how you work.

What works for most students who juggle study and other commitments?

• Make it flexible
• Plan for disruptions
• Expect to change it every few weeks

Your first system probably won’t work. That’s fine. The goal is to find something you’ll actually stick with, not something that looks good on a Pinterest board.

2. Use the In-Between Moments

You don’t need a three-hour block to get something done.

Waiting for the train? Sitting in the car? Hanging around before class or training starts? These moments add up.

Use them to:

• Flip through flashcards
• Brainstorm ideas for an assignment
• Rehearse a speech or key terms out loud
• Revisit something you struggled with in class

You don’t need to be switched on 24/7. But if you use even a few of these gaps well, you buy back time later for rest, hobbies, or friends.

3. Focus During Class So You Can Relax Later

If you're a full-time student, you're probably spending around 1,000 hours a year in the classroom. That's a huge chunk of your time.

So make it count.

Taking good notes, asking questions, and actually paying attention means you won’t need to reteach yourself the content later. That gives you more space in the afternoon or evening to recharge or do the other things you care about.

If you zone out during class, you’re just creating more work for future you.

4. Get More Done in Less Time

Long sessions aren’t always productive. In fact, students juggling multiple commitments often have to be more efficient with their studies.

What works?

• Active recall and flashcards
• Past paper questions and practice problems
• Teaching someone else
• Writing summaries from memory

This kind of study helps you get more done in less time, which means more room for sport, music, a job… or just breathing.

5. Don’t Quit Everything. Just Adjust.

Balance doesn’t mean doing it all, all the time. Sometimes you need to scale things back. Other times, you can keep more than you think.

We’ve seen students who cut out every extracurricular activity and burned out anyway. And we’ve seen students keep one or two key things, and do better because of them.

For most students, keeping one to three regular extracurricular activities is enough to stay grounded without burning out. The goal isn’t to do everything; just enough to protect your energy and stay connected to what matters.

Before a big exam or deadline, sure — skip training or reschedule a shift. But you don’t have to give it all up.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s sustainability.

6. Keep the Things That Keep You Grounded

One of the best things you can do during a stressful study period is keep doing one thing that helps you feel like yourself.

Whether that’s a sport, dance class, game night, piano lesson or volunteer gig — if it lifts your energy or clears your head, it’s worth keeping.

It’s not a distraction. It’s a reminder that you’re more than just your marks.

Final Thoughts

Balancing study with extracurricular activities isn’t about doing it all. It’s about knowing what matters, finding systems that work for you, and keeping the things that keep you motivated.

Don’t quit everything just because you’re busy. You might find that staying involved helps you show up better in every part of your life.

And that kind of balance? That’s what lasts.