How to Balance Extracurriculars and Academics in Online School?

December 10, 2025 byPhoebe Brown

7 min to read

Dancers in purple and black leotards performing a routine at the ballet barre.

This article was originally published October 2022 and was updated December 2025.

Extracurricular activities in school can be an important part of a student’s academic career. Most in-person and online schools in the U.S. offers some type of extracurricular activities, such as music, academic clubs, and sports. By balancing extracurricular activities and academics, students can learn how to reduce their stress and avoid overcommitting themselves while gaining the benefits of succeeding academically and in their extracurricular activities.

A student learning to play the violin in an online extracurricular class.

Online Extracurriculars: Understanding the Importance of Balance

From in-person to online extracurriculars, maintaining balance is essential to a well-rounded education and student. Students learn about theories, concepts, and ideas in the classroom and then get chances to apply what they’ve learned in real-world applications—often during extracurricular activities.

Participating in extracurricular activities helps students foster their teamwork, collaboration, time management, and social skills. College admissions teams often look for what types of extracurriculars students are in and how long they’ve been participating in them. Learning time management strategies during school can help prevent burnout and help students feel motivated to keep up their grades.

Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Online School Students

The benefits of participating in extracurricular activities include:

Improved academic performance
Better study habits and time management skills
Higher self-esteem
Life skills, such as collaboration and teamwork
Socialization in online school
Real-world applications of lessons learned during school
Showing dedication and commitment to college admissions teams

Risks of Overcommitting to Extracurriculars

While extracurriculars have many benefits, there are risks to overcommitting to too many activities for students, such as:

Feeling overwhelmed and unable to get tasks done
Lack of quality sleep and feeling exhausted
Not addressing mental health or physical well-being
Missing due dates for assignments or forgetting when practice is

Strategies for Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars

Proactive planning before joining clubs or activities can help students maintain a healthy balance between academics and extracurriculars. Here are some tips to get started:

Prioritize Academic Responsibilities

A student’s academic responsibilities are the first priority. Use a planner or calendar to keep track of assignments, projects, due dates, and planned study or homework time. A planner or calendar filled in with this information can help students track how they can use their time.

Select Meaningful Extracurricular Activities

To prevent burnout and overcommitment, students should choose extracurricular activities that are meaningful to them. Choosing an activity they feel passionate about can bolster their self-esteem and enhance their academic performance. There are online extracurricular activities available, such as art club, STEM club, writing club, and many more. Some students may prefer in-person extracurriculars, including sports, music, drama and theater, acting, and others.

Develop a Structured Schedule

Knowing where to be and when can help students have a more a structured schedule that they can still keep flexible when needed. Maintaining an updated calendar in a highly visible place can help families and students stay on track and on time for academic and extracurricular activities.

Practice Self-Care and Stress Management

Students need to remember to leave time in their busy schedules for self-care. Stress management and self-care can look different for everyone, but some common techniques include listening to music, reading a book, practicing mindfulness, and breathing exercises.

Using Online School to Support Schedules

Using online school to support a student’s busy schedule can be an advantage for any student heavily involved in sports, the arts, entrepreneurship, a part-time job, or other pursuits that require extensive time commitments or travel. Some strategies for making online learning work with a student’s busy schedule and personal commitments include staying committed to a schedule, putting schoolwork first, practicing time management strategies, and communicating with teachers and school counselors if they start struggling academically.

How Online School Can Help Students Pursue Their Passions

For students pursuing their passions, online school flexibility provides them the time they need for academic success and bringing their passions to life. For example, online public school students must still meet their state’s requirements for a high school diploma, but they are not tied to a set daily schedule like at most brick-and-mortar high schools. While classes are live and students must follow their state’s attendance requirements, there is still flexibility for students and their families to arrange the school day to the student’s goals and obligations.

Enjoy Academics and Extracurriculars with Online School

Students can learn to balance their academic goals with their passions with the flexibility of online school. Find a Connections Academy online high school near you and explore how it can meet your student’s needs.