Demands on your time will never end. To achieve balance between playing football and maintaining good grades requires some time management techniques and a bit of wisdom.

Implementing these five smart moves will move you toward success in both arenas: the classroom and the football field.

• Stay organized. If you have a smart phone, be a ninja time manager by using Google's color-coded calendar to schedule your time. Each activity gets a separate color, including personal tasks. Allot a specific time to each activity. Include school work, school projects, papers that are due, and sports practice days and times. It will not always work perfectly because life comes at you fast, but it will be a lifesaver for your normal daily schedule. If you don’t have a smartphone, use the old-fashioned method of good ol’ paper and pen, or a large desk calendar and pencil.

• Manage your time. Don’t let your time manage you. There are certain activities that you must do every day, such as go to class, study for tests, complete school projects, and, of course, attend football practice. You know what you need to do daily and weekly so you tell your calendar what’s up, not the other way around. By planning and managing your time, you will be ahead of the game and you won’t feel like a victim of the clock. Be realistic with the actual time you need to take for certain tasks – you know you are not going to spend six hours a day on studying so don’t schedule that much time.
• Go after focused friends. If you’re truly honest with yourself, you have that one friend who is a master at sucking your time like a vampire on a fresh neck. You may have to set a personal boundary by explaining to the time vampire that you are only available at certain times of the week. Your silver cross to combat that is to find focused friends so you can keep each other accountable. By spending time with friends who are also concentrating on their studies and goals, you will pick up on their good habits and they will do the same when they see you focused and resolved to accomplish your goals.
• Use travel time to your advantage. You have car or bus time to read textbooks, study for upcoming quizzes or tests, and review class notes. Using your time wisely will help you stay ahead of the pack instead of always playing catch up which causes stress and anxiety. Start working on class assignments when you get them instead of waiting until the night before. Use bus time to get things done. If you do procrastinate, you could find yourself missing your next practice because you’re catching up on schoolwork. Don’t let that be your story.
• Make study hall, free periods and school tutors your allies. This is probably your best bet for balancing school and sports activities. Instead of using study hall to text or listen to your favorite music, hunker down and get to work. Ignore those around you who are relaxing – they don’t make your grades and they don’t play your position. If your school offers tutors, and you’re struggling in a particular subject, take advantage of the opportunity. They’re there for you. When you’re studying at home, make a special place your study space. Create an environment conducive to studying; as quiet as possible, pleasant surroundings, stocked with paper and pens/pencils, and a desktop or laptop computer.

Your school and athletic demands and obligations will continue to shout for attention. It’s just a part of your life right now and it will continue as you transition into work life after school.

By taking charge of your time now, you have solved the success quotient for life. Time belongs to you – it’s a renewable commodity that you own with each 24-hour period, and you are the sum of the hundreds of tiny decisions you make during any given day. Make poor time-management decisions and you will reap unpleasant consequences.

Make wise time-management decisions and you will be at the command center of your time.

Michelle Hill, the Strong Copy Quarterback at Winning Proof, is a sports and fitness content writer. She writes championship content for pro athletes, coaches, sports agents, sports psychologists, fitness professionals and transformation/success coaches. Her writing includes websites, e-newsletters, e-workbooks, brochures, press releases, blog articles and book development. Let’s call an audible for your next writing project that moves you from the red zone into the end zone.