Is it hard to balance a job and a sport you love in college?

It can definitely be hard to balance both, but it can be done. Most commonly, athletes will either only work in the off-season, or find on-campus housing and not have to pay rent (for example, by being a Resident Advisor in the freshman dorms, or by living in upperclassman housing if your university allows it). In my personal experience, I have balanced part-time work (10 hours/week) with sports and school in the off-season and lived on-campus (so no rent), but it's been really challenging. (I played Division I sports.)

One other thing to consider is that you would likely have more time to work in the off-season if you played Division III sports than Division I sports, given the differences in their amount of allowed off-season training. But Division III sports can't offer scholarships, just the regular financial aid to all students, so I'm not sure if this is feasible for you.

In order to manage both it may case stress, to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>