Balancing It All

October 27, 2025 - Shreya Yerramreddy (11)

Between school, extracurriculars, homework, a part-time job, and trying to squeeze in a social life, for many students, it might seem like there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. Many high schoolers start to feel stressed and pressured when they have so many activities going on. In fact, this isn't a rare experience, with one in every four teens saying they feel burnt out (Harvard, 2024). For this reason, being able to find a healthy balance between academics and your personal life is the most important thing students can do to protect their mental and physical health.

But, how do you organize your week to be able to balance school, work, and other responsibilities? For many people, it differs, as everyone organizes their life in a different way. Some may use a planner to keep track of events, others may schedule downtime to avoid burnout, and some students may seek support from family or friends. Keira Clement, a junior at Hough High School this year, states that she makes a structured schedule to keep track of things. She explains that this allows her to “record important dates and monitor upcoming occasions she has.” Writing down these events helps her reduce stress during a busy week. Additionally, Hough sophomore, Riddhi Pendru (10), says she makes weekly to-do lists which help her revise what priorities she has for that specific week, and keep a strong and stable routine. She states, “To-do lists help me make sure I am not falling behind and am getting things done on time.” Having a plan not only improves organizational skills but also helps create a sense of stability and direction in life.

However, even with planners and schedules, many people still struggle with keeping their life balanced and not burning out at the same time. A tip that Karthika Yerramreddy, a freshman at Hough, uses to not burn out with sports and school is to take breaks. She states that, “breaks allow her to be able to finish her homework and participate in other activities without feeling fatigued and physically drained all the time.” In fact, studies have shown that taking breaks increases energy levels and decreases exhaustion. Furthermore, Nora Hanbury (11) stays motivated by pushing herself to work hard for her grades and her future.. Nora wishes to go to NC State for college and eventually become an interior designer. These plans keep her from slacking off and push her to work harder for the betterment of her future. Motivation is a key factor for many students to stay disciplined and work harder.

Ultimately, balance is not only about managing your time effectively, but also about prioritizing your well-being. After talking to many students about how they plan to manage work-life balance, a few tips that they have given include: Getting enough sleep every night, using a planner, not overburdening yourselves with work, and talking to the people around them. High school may be challenging at times, but it's also a time in your life that helps you grow and learn. By setting goals and staying organized, you can find a balance that not only allows you to succeed inside the classroom but also on the outside.

Ridenour, Eric. “Work-Life Balance in Your Personal Life.” Zoma, 3 Aug. 2025, zomasleep.com/blog/work-life-balance.