School, homework, sports, and time for family and friends? Some days this doesn’t even seem possible. Even with great time management skills, there is just not enough time in the day for all of it! Most kids of this generation have a full plate and are being jam packed with activities. Although sports, school, and even homework are all apart of a healthy lifestyle, is it still healthy when kids are up until 2 a.m cramming for a Science test the next day?  So when does it all become too much is the question.

Studies have shown that a “too busy” schedule can cause nervous breakdowns, lack of sleep, anxiety and even worsening grades. Around 90% of kids and teens play in an organized sports team and around 73% are involved in at least one other sport. Although this might not seem like a hard challenge, when is there time for homework?  Per day, an average teen has 6 hours of school, 2-3 hours of homework (not including studying), and a 2 hour sports practice. With all of this, days seem to go by too fast and teens are spending more time in a car driving to a sport or sitting at home doing homework. This rush is causing more fast food stops, less family time, and less time sleeping.

Personally, I think that a majority of kids have too busy schedules and just need time to relax and remember what it’s like to be a kid again. As a swimmer, I am aware of long practices. Our  5 days a week practices range from a 2 hours – 2 hours 45 minutes. On top of a swim practice there is also homework that has to be accomplished and extra curricular activity promises to uphold. This has been a problem for many generations but people always manage. Even though I agree with it being too much, time management and prioritizing can play a major role in evening out a schedule. But when it all seems like it is becoming too much to handle, remember, skipping one practice every now and then is surely understandable.

~Jenna Tubby