6 Tips for Managing Time Outside of the Dance Studio
Most dancers spend a significant amount of time per week in the dance studio.
While they are doing what they love, this can cause some stress in other areas of life. Sometimes the demands of school, socializing, work, community service, and everyday life can be overwhelming.
As a dancer, it can be challenging to balance all those requirements on top of your many hours at dance, but it’s not unattainable! Keep reading for six tips on managing time and balancing dance with the other essential aspects of your life.
Stay organized.
As a dancer, it’s crucial that you take responsibility for staying organized. Invest in a calendar application on your phone or an agenda book and use them regularly. People struggling to manage their time aren’t short on time, they just aren’t planning ahead.
Set yourself up for success with a calendar or journal that will allow you to see the commitments and responsibilities that lie ahead. This will enable you to set your priorities and get the most pressing items done first. Staying on top of these everyday tasks and keeping them organized will minimize your stress, allowing you to focus on those long-term goals.
Focus on prioritizing.
We get it, dancers want to spend every second of their free time dancing, but to succeed in life, you must put other things first from time to time.
If you have a school project due and need to practice some steps, think about which is more important. Getting your project out of the way will give you more time to focus on dance, as you won’t have the schoolwork lurking in the back of your mind.
Set goals.
Set SMART goals to understand where dance fits in in your life. Finding time is just as much about staying motivated and focused as creating free time.
This is where setting goals for dance is critical. However, these cannot be just any random goals or desires; they need to be SMART goals, which means:
- Specific – you need to give yourself as much information as possible about exactly what you want to accomplish.
- Measurable – the goal needs to be quantifiable. For example, apply an extra 30 minutes to practice, learn two new steps, etc.
- Achievable – something that you can realistically achieve.
- Relevant – ensure the goal applies to you at this particular time in your life.
- Time – the goal needs to have a time target. If the plan does not have a time target, how do you know when to achieve it?
Learn to multitask.
Multitasking is one of the best ways to use your time efficiently. This means checking numerous things off your to-do list at once, and it’s a great way to create some free time in your week.
However, everybody is different, and some people require full attention on a task to get it done correctly. Chances are, if you’re a dancer, you are used to thinking about one hundred things at a time. An excellent example of multitasking is stretching while studying for an upcoming exam. Just ensure that you’re stretching safely and aren’t holding single stretches for extended periods while distracted by other things.
Stay clutter-free.
Another great way to get organized is to keep your space tidy. This can include your locker, bedroom, desk, dance bag, and school bag.
Keeping things organized and clutter-free will help you manage your time more effectively by ensuring that you aren’t wasting time searching for lost items or digging around your room for your dance costume last minute!
Pencil in some downtime.
Allowing some downtime is a vital part of time management. It’s also good for your body and your brain. On Sunday, think about your week ahead and pencil in some quality time for yourself. It’ll help keep you centered and balanced during the week, especially when things get chaotic.
As dancers, our schedules can be overwhelming and prone to changes. Rehearsals get moved and schedules can shift. Exploring time management and being aware of your schedule can help you grow as a dancer and as a person.
We hope these tips have you ready for the week ahead and help you manage your time a little more efficiently! For more information and tricks, check out our informative blog.