A storage system and method for adaptive scheduling of background operations are provided. In one embodiment, after a storage system completes a host operation in the memory, the storage system remains in a high power mode for a period of time, after which the storage system enters a low-power mode. The storage system estimates whether there will be enough time to perform a background operation in the memory during the period of time without the background operation being interrupted by another host operation. In response to estimating that there will be enough time to perform the background operation in the memory without the background operation being interrupted by another host operation, the storage system performs the background operation in the memory.