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Balancing Your Personal Interests With Your Studies
Concept sheet | Study tips
Having personal interests can bring you happiness and a sense of accomplishment, but it’s important that they don’t interfere with your studies. Whether you’re into sports, artistic pursuits, or video games, if you’ve ever tried to find the right balance between your interests and your school work, you know that it’s easier said than done! This article is full of tips on how to pursue your passions and still be successful at school.
Secondary
1-5
Table of Contents
The Benefits of Personal Interests and Hobbies
Did you know that pursuing your favourite pastimes can have a positive impact on your well-being and on your academic success? They can:
- Motivate you to go to school, especially if you do extracurricular activities
- Help shape your personality, build your self-esteem, and boost your self-confidence
- Give you a sense of accomplishment and spark a love of learning
- Provide an escape from the pressures of school and relieve stress
- Allow you to develop your skills and talents
- Foster meaningful connections with other people who share your interests
- Improve your mental and physical well-being
- Help your resume stand out from the crowd
Sports in particular have been shown to have a positive influence on academic success.
When it comes to interests, there’s a fine line between balance and obsession. The above benefits only apply when you have a balanced approach to your interests, meaning that you don’t become so immersed in them that you get off track with the other parts of your life.
The other extreme is an obsessive interest, where you neglect other facets of your life and feel you that the activity is controlling you, not the other way around. When this happens, it can bring up all kinds of difficult emotions.
Tune in to how much you’re enjoying and engaged in an activity; it’s usually a good barometer! If you aren’t sure where you stand, you can reach out to Tel-jeunes for support.
The Importance of School
Despite the benefits of pursuing your passions, it’s still important to prioritize your studies because school is important.
If you plan on turning your passion into a career, by becoming a professional basketball player, artist, or farmer, for example, you may be wondering: “What’s the point of going to school?” And if you aren’t enjoying school as much you enjoy the time you spend on your personal interests, you may be wondering the same thing. Why go to school and put effort into your academics when there are so many other interesting things to do?
School can help you:
- Build lifelong friendships
- Learn new things
- Master skills you’ll need in the future
- Develop your autonomy
- Learn to articulate your ideas, opinions, and emotions
And while your personal interests can also help in some of these ways, it’s important to remember the importance of building a solid foundation that will serve you well for the rest of your life.
For example, if your life revolves around sports and you get injured, school can open up other avenues and give you transferable skills to help you bounce back.
School is about so much more than academics; it’s also a place to develop critical thinking skills, resilience, and adaptability. So even if your interests are what give you a sense of purpose, having a good education means that you’ll be able to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities, no matter what life throws at you.
How to Strike the Right Balance
If school and personal interests are equally important, how do you find the right balance? It can be tricky, but our tips will help you succeed!
- Use an agenda to keep track of everything you need to get done. Write down all your activities, homework deadlines, exam dates, and any other important information you need to remember.
- Plan your weekly schedule by establishing blocks of time for being in class, studying, and practising your hobbies and interests. Try this tool (in French) to visualize and determine how much time you can devote to each area.
- If you have a lot of interests, map out a monthly or seasonal schedule, listing all the activities you’d like to do. For example, you might decide: This winter, I’d like to go cross-country skiing, play hockey, sing in the choir, organize the fashion show, and do some volunteer work. Your parents can help you figure out how realistic your plan is and, if needed, make choices before you find yourself with too much on your plate.
- Use your interests as a reward for completing your homework or lessons. Homework may not be as exciting as time spent on your favourite hobbies, but it’s still important. So why not give yourself something to look forward to once you’ve put in the work?
- Be flexible. Some weeks will be busier than others, like when you have exams or a competition. During these hectic periods, you may need to adjust your schedule and make certain choices so you don’t become overwhelmed. Another strategy is to plan ahead for busier times. For example, you can set aside extra study time the week before your big tournament or concert.
- Most importantly, tune in to your needs. If you’re doing too much, your body and your mind will tell you. When this happens, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. And remember that rest is just as important as action. It recharges your batteries so you can do all the things that are important to you!
If you have a part-time job, it’s even more important to use these strategies and maintain a healthy balance. Try to stick to a schedule and, above all, get enough rest. Remember that your support system (family, teachers) can help you set priorities and organize your schedule.
Use Your Support System
Your family, school professionals, and friends can all help you maintain the right balance between your passions and your studies.
Family can provide a strong routine and a balanced schedule to help you manage your time effectively. They can also motivate you and cheer you on. They understand your challenges and want to celebrate your wins!
School professionals can help you map out your academic journey and guide you towards success. Don’t be shy to talk about your interests and ask for advice on how to balance them with your studies. They may be able to help you figure out how to spread out your study time, for example, or even make accommodations if you have an important competition coming up.
Your friends may share in your interests or simply provide moral support when you feel stressed. Just by being there, friends can inspire and motivate each other!
If you have a strong support system and know when to ask for help, there’s no doubt that you’ll succeed in balancing your studies with your personal interests.