Post #3
FINDING THE BALANCE
Balancing all of the things that life throws at you as an athlete can be a difficult task. When trying to prioritize school, family, friends, sports, and other activities, you can begin to feel like you’re being stretched too thin. Here are some helpful tips to make balancing all of our priorities more manageable:
Build a Solid Support System
Having people in your corner who support you makes all of life’s tasks feel less daunting. Whether this be friends, family, teammates, coaches, or teachers, a support system is vital for athletes who are balancing their sport with other responsibilities. Find these supporters and don’t be afraid to lean on them when things get difficult. Asking for help is not a weakness, it is a SKILL that creates a learning experience and enhances your connection with your support system.
Prioritize Tasks
As student athletes, it is not uncommon to be juggling multiple tasks at a time. When this happens, take a moment to look at the tasks you are facing. Are some more important than others? Are some needing to be completed before others? Assess the tasks in front of you and decide an order of priority, then complete the highest priority items first while leaving room for the other activities. Creating this order will make the tasks feel more manageable and gives you a direction to start.
Communicate Effectively
When things become overwhelming and balancing it all feels impossible, it can be difficult for those around you to know if you are feeling this way. Communicating openly with teammates, coaches, teachers, peers, and family helps ensure understanding and gives your support system the opportunity to support you. Being honest about stressors with the key people in your life allows them to step in and assist, and allows you to share the load so that it is more manageable.
Take Breaks and Rest
While the training and study sessions are extremely important, taking breaks and getting the appropriate rest is just as important! As athletes, we often want to push through the fatigue in whatever we are doing. But, taking time to rest our bodies and our minds allows time for these essential pieces to recover and come back stronger and better prepared the second time. Take pride in the work you are doing, but also take pride in the rest you are giving yourself to recover.
FINDING THE BALANCE
Balancing all of the things that life throws at you as an athlete can be a difficult task. When trying to prioritize school, family, friends, sports, and other activities, you can begin to feel like you’re being stretched too thin. Here are some helpful tips to make balancing all of our priorities more manageable:
Build a Solid Support System
Having people in your corner who support you makes all of life’s tasks feel less daunting. Whether this be friends, family, teammates, coaches, or teachers, a support system is vital for athletes who are balancing their sport with other responsibilities. Find these supporters and don’t be afraid to lean on them when things get difficult. Asking for help is not a weakness, it is a SKILL that creates a learning experience and enhances your connection with your support system.
Prioritize Tasks
As student athletes, it is not uncommon to be juggling multiple tasks at a time. When this happens, take a moment to look at the tasks you are facing. Are some more important than others? Are some needing to be completed before others? Assess the tasks in front of you and decide an order of priority, then complete the highest priority items first while leaving room for the other activities. Creating this order will make the tasks feel more manageable and gives you a direction to start.
Communicate Effectively
When things become overwhelming and balancing it all feels impossible, it can be difficult for those around you to know if you are feeling this way. Communicating openly with teammates, coaches, teachers, peers, and family helps ensure understanding and gives your support system the opportunity to support you. Being honest about stressors with the key people in your life allows them to step in and assist, and allows you to share the load so that it is more manageable.
Take Breaks and Rest
While the training and study sessions are extremely important, taking breaks and getting the appropriate rest is just as important! As athletes, we often want to push through the fatigue in whatever we are doing. But, taking time to rest our bodies and our minds allows time for these essential pieces to recover and come back stronger and better prepared the second time. Take pride in the work you are doing, but also take pride in the rest you are giving yourself to recover.
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