How I Balance School, Badminton, and Life by Parnika Thakare

 How I Balance School, Badminton, and Life

by Parnika Thakare 

Honestly trying to balance school, badminton, and everything else in life gets really hectic

sometimes. I’ve been playing badminton professionally for years, so it’s not just a hobby—it’s

part of my daily routine and because of it I also have to do fitness. Add school, tests,

homework, and just normal life stuff on top, and it can definitely get overwhelming. I used to

stress a lot about getting everything done perfectly, but I have recently realized that balance

isn’t about doing it all at once. It’s about figuring out what needs your energy right now and

prioritizing things at the right time. I mean it's just my experience and not necessarily right,

but it did help me a lot.

One thing that really helps me is planning ahead—nothing fancy, just a to-do list or

reminders on my phone. If I know I have a tournament coming up, I’ll try to finish my

assignments and school work earlier or use travel time to finish it. Some days, badminton

takes up more space; other days, school does. It depends. I even joined my schools track

team for a season and it was super exhausting but I love trying new things so...other than

that I’ve also learned to ask for help when I need it, whether it’s from teachers or family,

although I try to avoid it. And if I miss a day or fall behind a bit, I try not to beat myself up

over it (though I do can’t help it😭)

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that rest matters too. Without rest I used to just feel sleepy

and exhausted the whole day which did affect my studies too. So, I make sure to give myself

breaks—whether that’s doing art, watching movies, spending time with family and friends, or

just doing nothing for a bit. I’m still figuring it all out, but I’ve found that balancing school,

badminton, and life is possible if you take it day by day ,be organized, prioritise things and

don’t forget to breathe.