By As a college student-athlete, our lives can get extremely busy.
Juggling class, homework, practices, games, and a social life can become a difficult task; often, one or more of these things gets put on the back burner. I was thinking of writing about a day in the life of a student-athlete (myself), but what inspired me more was a day in the life of my roommate, Seth Eifler.
Eifler isn’t a student-athlete.
Some of you may know him as a “muggle.” Without a coach on his back or a daunting schedule of required things to do, I would argue that he is more productive than most of us non-muggles.
Instilled with discipline, Eifler is a senior biology major from Phoenix, Arizona, on a pre-med track. On top of his demanding studies, he also holds himself accountable for his physical and mental health.
“So many people spend their day procrastinating and avoiding things they don’t want to do that they eventually will have to do,” Eifler said. “If you just get it done and put 100% energy and effort into it, you’ll have time to do the things you want to do.”
I think it’s easy for student-athletes to complain about our rigorous schedules. But the discipline it takes to maximize their day is something that I applaud – even if it does mean waking up by your roommate’s alarm clock every morning at 4:50 a.m.
So what does a day in the life of my muggle roommate look like? Let me tell you.
4:50 a.m.: The alarm clock goes off
5:10 a.m.: Go to Capital City Sports Gym
6:30 a.m.: Get home and make breakfast
7:00 a.m.: Shower and get dressed for the day
7:30 a.m: Homework/study/pack bag for the day
7:45 a.m.: Go to work
8:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Work at Helena Orthopedic Clinic as a Scribe and Tech
12:30 p.m.: Come home and eat lunch
1:00-1:50 p.m.: Class
2:00-5:00 p.m.: Go back to work
5:00 p.m.: Come home and eat dinner
5:30 p.m.: Homework and study
6:30 p.m.: Go back to the gym for Men’s League basketball game
7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.: Play in-game
8:15 p.m.: Shower and get organized for the next day, pack gym bag, and lay out clothes
8:45 p.m.: Play Fortnite with roommates yayyyy!
9:30 p.m.: Lights out
4:50 a.m.: Repeat
I get tired just reading this list. While athletics keep our student-athletes occupied, many muggles are just as busy, if not busier.
“Discipline builds the foundation to complete and be successful at the little things so that when the big things come, you’re already in a place where you can be successful,” Eifler said. “Motivation is such a fleeting thing – the only thing that gets you through it is discipline.”
