Mastering the Clock: A Playbook for Effective Time Management

"Playbook for Success" is your go-to resource for navigating the unique challenges of transitioning from college athletics to the professional world. This newsletter aims to empower college student-athletes and alumni with practical insights, easy-to-follow strategies, and inspiring stories to equip you on your journey. It's time to score big in your post-college journey by building a strong foundation for professional success.

Hi student-athletes and alumni,

As a college student-athlete, you may face challenges and opportunities to balance your academic and athletic goals. Whether you compete at a college in NCAA Division III or a university at the Division I level, you will need to develop time management skills to succeed both as a student and a competitor. In this article, you will learn what time management is, how it is already playing a role in your life today, and tips to boost your productivity as you navigate the transition to the professional world.

Defining Effective Time Management

Effective time management is a strategic approach to prioritizing task, staying organized, and maximizing productivity. For student-athletes, this means creating a balance between the demands of their sport and the rigors of academics. On top of that, student-athletes are encouraged to take steps towards their post-graduate plans by networking, attending panels, and interviewing for internships or full-time opportunities. With effective time management, student-athletes can minimize stress and focus on what matters most while still having a fun college experience.

Facts & Figures Behind Time Management for Student-Athletes

According to the 2019 NCAA GOALS Study , over 60% of Division I and II student-athletes reported that they spend as much or more time on athletics during the offseason as during their competitive season. That metric alone is eye-opening as it directionally states that our student-athletes are busy year-round. As schedules trend towards becoming busier than ever, it's only right we look at how to better manage our time.

Below are more stats from the NCAA GOALS Study. If you're a student-athlete, take note at the rigor you go through on a daily basis:

• Student-Athletes invest more than 60+ hours per week in their athletic pursuits and academic responsibilities combined.
• During a typical day of competition, Division I student-athletes report spending anywhere from four to nine hours on their sport.
• One-third of Division II student-athletes work nine hours per week on average during the academic year.
• Over two-thirds of Division III student-athletes are involved in an internship/externship, and 44% have a job and work a median of eight hours per week.

Give yourself grace and use this dynamic to your advantage as you speak about your ability to balance academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Leverage your story!

Student-Athletes Tackle Time Management

Below are several examples of student-athletes delicately balancing their lives. Read through the short narratives and take note of any similarities between the examples and your daily life. It’s good to have an updated account of where you showcase effective time management in your life because it will be easier to recall this information in professional interactions such as interviews.

• Meet Sarah, a soccer player with a packed schedule. After a grueling away game, she faces early morning classes the next day. Recognizing the challenge, Sarah orchestrates her study sessions during the travel downtime, making the most of bus rides and hotel stays. She collaborates with her teammates, turning shared spaces into impromptu study halls. The result? Sarah maintains her academic excellence, proving that effective time management is the winning play even in the face of a busy game schedule.
• Across campus, Jake, a basketball player, is in the midst of a demanding training week filled with multiple practices and weight training sessions. To ensure peak performance on the court without compromising his academic commitments, Jake crafts a weekly schedule. This strategic planning involves designating specific hours for training, academics, and necessary downtime. Jake’s ability to optimize his time showcases a skill set that extends beyond the court – essential in the unpredictable landscape of the professional world.
• And then there’s Erin, a tennis player navigating weekend tournaments and a full academic workload. Understanding the importance of personal well-being, Erin prioritizes self-care in her schedule. She carves out specific time slots for relaxation, socializing, and personal activities. In doing so, Erin strikes a healthy balance between her responsibilities and personal rejuvenation, demonstrating that effective time management isn’t just about meeting deadlines – it’s about creating a life that blends passion, academics, and personal growth.

These narratives exemplify the daily changes student-athletes face and how, through effective time management, they not only navigate the complexities of college life but also lay the groundwork for success in their future professional endeavors. In this dynamic college environment today, mastering time management is truly a playbook for success.

Five Tips to Boost Your Productivity and Achieve Your Goals

There are many ways for student-athletes to balance their multiple commitments and still enjoy their college experience. Below are some tips that can be helpful while in school, but also as you begin to transition to the professional world:

• Prioritize your tasks based on their urgency and importance. Use a matrix or list to rank your tasks and focus on the ones that are most critical and valuable.
• Set SMART goals for yourself and your projects. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This will help you define your desired outcomes, track your progress, and stay motivated.
• Create a realistic schedule for your day, week, or month. Allocate enough time for each task, including breaks and buffer time for unexpected delays or interruptions. Use a calendar, planner or app to organize your schedule and stick to it as much as possible.
• Eliminate or minimize distractions that can disrupt your focus and productivity. This may include turning off notifications, closing unnecessary tabs or apps, working in a quiet and comfortable environment, and avoiding multitasking.
• Review and reflect on your performance and results at the end of each day, week, or month. Identify what went well, what went wrong, and what can be improved. Learn from your mistakes and celebrate your wins, both on and off the playing field.

We can't forget the ways in which these tips (and many more) are transferrable to the professional world. We have talked about the skills below before, but take a quick look as the information below may help you generate new ways to enhance your resume or LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords and phrases:

1. Deadline Dexterity: Efficiently meeting assignment deadlines in college translates seamlessly into meeting project timelines in the professional world.
2. Strategic Planning: Developing weekly training schedules easily translates to creating project timelines, showcasing your ability to plan and execute effectively.
3. Adaptability: Maneuvering through a dynamic college schedule prepares you for the unpredictable nature of the professional world, where adaptability is key.
4. Effective Communication: Coordinating with teammates for study sessions translates into effective communication skills, crucial in any professional team or workplace.
5. Prioritization and Decision-Making: Juggling academics, athletics, and social life requires constant prioritization – a skill highly valued in professional settings.

In the bustling rhythm of college life, where every minute counts, effective time management becomes a vital skill. As student-athletes, each hour invested in the pursuit of athlete success and academic excellence is a step towards your personal summit. So, as you continue to master effective time management, remember that this skill isn't just a game-changer in college - it's your playbook for a successful journey after graduation.

The full NCAA 2019 GOALS Study referenced in this article can be found here .

A 1-Page Overview titled "Time Management: What student-athletes should expect " which pulls from the 2019 GOALS Study was also referenced for this article.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you have specific questions - always happy to help in any way that I can.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by the author, Evan Coleman.