How to Balance School, Life, and Leadership Commitments

Managing multiple activities alongside school can feel like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a bike—exciting, chaotic, and occasionally a little terrifying. Believe me, I was in those shoes in high school and I’m still wearing them in college. After failing, learning, adjusting and eventually figuring things out, I’ve found ways to make this whole “balancing everything” thing less scary.

My name is Bea! I’m an AMP alumni, and over the past year I’ve been a student coordinator at AMP while also mentoring a network of 2000+ students across Brazil—all while being a full-time student myself. So yes, I’ve lived this life on “hard mode.” Here’s what has actually helped me stay on top of it all without burning out or leaving things half-done.

1. Understand Your Time

Everyone loves to say “we all have the same 24 hours,” but… we kind of don’t. Your routine isn’t the same as your friend’s, your classmate’s, or that influencer who wakes up at 4 a.m. to journal. Your 24 hours are yours.

Start by mapping out the fixed parts of your day: school hours, practice, meals, home responsibilities, sleep, commuting—anything that doesn’t move. Then look at the free slots you’ve got left. These are the pockets you can use for studying, leadership tasks, or project work.

I personally use Google Calendar because seeing my week laid out helps me understand how much time I actually have instead of how much time I think I have.

2. Give Schoolwork a Specific Time in Your Routine

Once you understand your schedule, block time specifically for schoolwork. Consistency turns into habit faster than you think.

You can either assign certain subjects to certain days—like math on Tuesdays, history on Thursdays—or just hold a general study block and decide on the day what needs attention most. Both work! What matters is that you treat study time like any other appointment.

3. Know What You’re Doing and When

Here’s a common trap: writing “study math” on your to-do list and calling it a day. Too vague. Your brain hates vague.

Instead, be specific:
Tuesday: Math – review chapters 3–5 + complete assigned problems.
That’s actionable. You sit down, know exactly what to do, and suddenly you’re not wasting 10 minutes wondering where to start.

Same with leadership commitments. When you know precisely what tasks you need to complete for your project or team, everything becomes smoother.

4. Do Things When Asked, Not When They’re Due

Procrastination is sneaky. When a teacher gives you three weeks to finish a project, it usually means it can’t (or shouldn’t) be done one hour before the deadline.

Start early—not because you’re trying to be the perfect student, but because Future You deserves to avoid panic mode. There’s nothing better than reaching the due date and realizing everything’s already done and ready to submit.

5. Understand Your Roles

When you’re juggling multiple leadership positions, the key is knowing exactly what your role is in each space. Not every commitment needs the same version of you, and not every task is equally urgent. Start by clarifying your responsibilities: what are you expected to deliver, and what can be delegated?

Communication also matters. Keep your team updated, check in regularly, and make sure everyone knows what’s happening and when. Leadership isn’t about doing everything—it’s about helping things move smoothly.

Finally, keep your commitments visible. A simple list of leadership tasks helps you stay organized and avoids last-minute chaos.

6. Rest Properly

Social media keeps convincing us that being productive 24/7 is the only way to succeed. That mindset is a straight line to burnout. Humans aren’t machines—your brain needs real rest.

That means 8 hours of sleep, breaks between study sessions, stretching, breathing, staring at the ceiling for a minute… actual rest. And no, scrolling on social media doesn’t count. If anything, that’s the opposite of rest.

These steps have been my formula for the past four years, and they’re the reason I’ve been able to juggle school, leadership roles, and life without losing my mind. Balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about understanding yourself, staying organized, and giving your mind space to breathe. You’ve got this.