Ask Amy

October 3, 2010

I’m having trouble balancing schoolwork and dance. I come home from a long day and rush through my homework without worrying about whether I did it correctly. Doing homework late at night makes me stressed for the rest of the week and affects my attitude towards dancing. How do I balance both school and dance?
–Marie

When I think of my crazy schedule as a teenager, I’m amazed I ever made it through high school! My brain was fried by the time I’d get home from ballet class. It helps to stay super organized. Look at your daily and weekly schedule in advance to find pockets of time to do homework during lunch, study hall or immediately after school. Prioritize what needs to get done, and avoid procrastinating. I used to finish my math homework right after school because it was hardest for me, and save shorter, easier assignments for after dance classes. Sometimes if I was super-exhausted after ballet I would head straight to bed and get up extra early to finish schoolwork.

Take advantage of your breaks between dance classes, or time in the car (unless, of course, you are the one driving). I used go to the library on weekends for a few hours to crank out some study time without the distractions at home. I found I worked way more efficiently when I couldn’t make phone calls, watch TV or raid the pantry. Scheduling out your day, your week and your weekend may seem like a drag, but eventually you’ll find a rhythm and your life will feel more manageable.