The Winter Olympics is held every four years, this year it is in Milano Cortina in Italy, and runs from 6 February to 22 February. One medal hopeful is Team GB's Ellia Smeding who is aiming for gold in Speed Skating.
Ellie is eager to make her return special after taking the time to recover from an injury. An athlete's rest and recovery process is important and it can inspire you when revising for exams or studying.
Let's take a look at some wonderful Winter Olympic-inspired tips about striking a good study-life balance.
Show resilience
Team GB Speed Skaters have a gruelling training programme, especially in the lead up to the Winter Olympics. Ellia’s previous season was put on hold due to a hip injury, but she has taken the time to rest and recover and come back stronger, Ellia told BBC Sport: "coming back makes the achievement feel more special." By having a long period out of training and returning back, it shows how Ellia used resilience and pushed through to get to her next goal.
Having that time to rest and reflect in sport allows you to let your body and mind to fully recover and avoid overtraining. This same thing goes for your studies and school life, as you may experience some setbacks, like not achieving the grades you want, or having a tough day at school. You can show resilience, bouncing back after a hard time. Dr Heather says resilience is a dynamic skill, which can be developed through interactions within our social network. Just like Ellia did, take some time for yourself and come back with a fresh mind set.
School-life balance
Whether it’s competing in a Winter Olympic sport like Bobsleigh, or studying and being in school everyday, it’s important to have that balance. British Bobsleigh athlete Leon Greenwood talks about his life in the four man team, and how much work goes into preparing for one event. He told BBC Sport how he sometimes spends six months away, then needs a month at home to decompress and go again.
Striking a study-life balance was important to our Mind Set students who told us about how they enjoy their spare time after a hard day studying at school. Iain said he set time aside every day for his friends, and Rohan spoke about how he goes to martial arts and stage school. There are some more ideas about what you could do in your spare time in our video here, check it out, it might help you!
Sleep
Now we know the training is important for the Winter Olympics, but getting the right amount of sleep is important too - otherwise you would be falling asleep at the skis! You wouldn't want your body to be tired if you were about to race down a big mountain on a snowboard, so why make your body tired when studying in or after school.
Dr Carolina explains how the right amount of sleep is good for learning and feeling re-energised. She tells us a good night time routine is a good way to prepare for the next day. Dr Radha talks about different ways you can create an evening routine, which can align your focus ready for school. She recommends setting an alarm every day for the same time everyday, or journalling your day are little steps to help your mind switch off before you get your recommended 8-10 hours per night!
Follow these tips, make sure you chill, and you'll be on an upwards slope towards a mountain of success!
If you need support
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.
If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.
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