Getting in the Groove: Balance

Hello Everyone!

It’s that time of year again — school’s back in session, ballet shoes are hitting the studio floors, and everyone’s slowly stretching out of that long summer break (including us 😜).

While regular kids are overwhelmed by the workload and now-unfamiliar socializing — ballet students are doing all that plus jetés, rehearsals, and trying not to fall asleep in their science class after a 3-hour tech run.

We get it. It’s a lot.

That's why, we've launched a sparkly new blog series and it's all about getting back in the ballet × school groove without losing your mind (or your turnout 😅).

In this post we'll start with the essentials — balancing school with ballet. We'll be covering some of our favourite tips as ballerinas ourselves plus some extra research.

#1: Plan, plan, plan!

A solid plan is the sharpest weapon a high-school ballerina could have. Use calendars to plan and try your best to stick to it. 

And no — we don't mean planning out one day at a time. We mean setting aside 30 minutes every Sunday to map out your entire week — classes, rehearsals, homework, self-care. All of it. 🗓️ 

Leave room for surprises. Leave room to rest. And definitely leave room for snacks.

What about exams? If you can, start studying an hour a day from at least a month in advance. We know it’s a big ask — but trust us, it adds up to less stress and way more free time later.

#2: Tomatoes are the best fruit. 

We're not kidding. Enter: the Pomodoro Technique — aka the Tomato Method. 🍅✨

It's a method of time management that divides tasks into 3 parts:

• 25-minute focus blocks
• 5-minute mini-breaks after each block
• A longer 15-minute break after 4 blocks

It’s simple, science-backed, and shockingly effective. 

One awesome site you could use is pomofocus.io. It's simple — add tasks and how much time you think it will take and then start working.

#3: Prioritize — and prioritize well.

A ballet rehearsal, your best friend’s birthday party, and an exam the next day?

Yeah. We’ve all been there. (And if you haven’t… 🫡 your time is coming.)

Moments like these are no joke — and trying to do everything perfectly is a fast track to burnout.

But here’s the plot twist:

You don’t need to get an A+ (or Level 8) in everything.

That's why, when things get messy... prioritize. The key is knowing what matters most right now — not what looks best on paper or what everyone else is doing.

Ask yourself:

• What’s urgent?
• What’ll actually move me forward this week — in school, dance and life?
• What can I drop, delay, or delegate?

Try the “Top 3” rule. Each week (or even each day), write down the three most important tasks. If nothing else gets done, at least those did. 

And while you’re at it — be where your feet are.

Don’t spiral over rehearsal mistakes in math class, or panic about school while hanging with your friends. 

Focus on what you’re doing right now, and let yourself enjoy it.

Embrace the craziness — even if it means staying up for once to do your schoolwork.

#4 For the Greater Good!

We're talking about self-care and recovery — not Grindelwald's epic catch phrase  🪄 — because while it may seem like doing ballet, school and being social means sacrificing your wellbeing, that's seriously not the case. 

If anything, taking care of yourself is the greater good.

You’re not a machine. You can’t pirouette your way through burnout. So take time to rest — physically and mentally. 

That means:

• Sleep like it's an Olympic sport (Less than 7 hours is sabotage)
• Hydrate yourself and your plants. (They'll thank you)
• Stretch and cooldown, don't just warmup.
• Guilt-free off days, because resting is super productive

Besides, at the end of the day, ballet and school is for your good. But what's the point of all that goodness if you don't take good care of your self?

Just take out one evening a week and do nothing. No ballet, no homework, no stress.

Let yourself rest. You’ll dance better, think clearer, and maybe — just maybe — not fall asleep during that post-tech-run science class.

So yeah... It's a lot. A lot of work, a lot to remember and — a lot of fun if done right!

And we know you’ve got this.

Because who said ballet was easy?

Next week’s post is a way more chill one: our favorite daily stretches for dancers.

Until then...

Got a time-management hack that saves your sanity? Or maybe a stretch you'd like us to post next week?

Drop it in the comments — we're always hungry for ideas. 💡