While most of the world linked to high level sport holds athletes in admiration, there is also a hint of envy as people assume these athletes have “the good life” free from day to day pressures and stresses. However, the reality is athletes tend to have higher levels of stress as a result of balancing many different rehlms. I remember working with an athlete a short while back who was clearly one of the elites of her sport within the region. She was a caliber recruit on her high school team, and played on a premier travel team that required frequent travel and intense competition. When discussing concerns and struggles she was having, one thing stood out as a clear indicator that she had become overwhelmed with her sport and the various other elements in her life. What did she say that clued me into the “mess” she had? She felt the need to stop and take a nap everyday between class and practice.
If you paused to ask yourself why I found this to be a concern, it is likely because you are similar to most people who believe napping is a healthy means to gain rest and get through the busy schedule of an athlete. But for me, her need to sleep was a clear indication that something was not working well. So I asked her about her typical day, and this is when things began to become much more apparent. The nap wasn’t rest to recover from the intensity of her schedule, but instead a by-product and contributor to a lack of organization. Not only was she engrossed in a volleyball schedule that would leave most others bewildered, but she was a taking high level courses that required a large amount of work, was involved in a social scene that required coordination and planning of events, and was dealing with a family life that was experiencing complications within. How does all of this connect? She was sleeping due to staying up late (into the early morning hours) to simultaneously completing assignments and coordinating social events, while also processing strife at home that frequently lingered as a distraction. And the later she stayed up to complete tasks, the more she needed naps, and the more her performance and focus at pratices waned.
And this became a “jump in” point for our work together. I reminded her that she has no control over so many elements of her life. The arguments of family members, the assignments she was tasked with, nor the schedule of practices, trianing, and games. However, she did have the power to organize her life to take care of her responsibilities and commitments. Like so many athletes, she was scambling to juggle the elements of her life, but rather than dictate the time and place she would commit to things, she had become crushed by disjointed time segments. To be honest, I find this a repeating theme for many athletes I talk with. The pressures of preparing and performing laid on top of the expectations to complete school and family commitments. Then factor in the added pressures of social commitments and you have an athlete who can quickly lose focus.
As I noted earlier, getting organized is a powerful way for an athlete to regain perspective and a reckoning with what needs to be done. Most importantly, being more organized provides relief from the anxiety and tension that are a product of having so many issues to deal with. Often this is because the athlete is able to be much more efficient with what they are trying to accomplish, and recognize where they may be allowing attention and effort to drift into areas in which they have no influence. In the case I noted above, this happened quickly for her. As we took time to schedule all aspects of her life, she began to realize that some things needed no scheduling at all because, in her words, “they aren’t my issue”. Similarly, she was able to give greater attention to her own goals, and what she needed to do in order to earn the grades she sought, as well as perform at the level she expected from herself. Not only did she start to do better in both arenas, but she was much more present when with family and friends because she didn’t have concerns lingering in her mind, and was able to avoid taking on other’s issues.
The question now is, “how do I (or my athlete) get organized?” First of all, start by using technology more effectively by calendaring your time. Start by blocking the time you already know (class schedule, practice time, etc.). Then plan for things you need to take responsibility for, such as study hours, research time, training, and other elements connected to the goals you have set. Soon this will allow you to see where you “fit in” the other aspects of life including social and family, and just as important, free-time (yes, you need to plan to have fun).
A second important skill is to keep a running, weekly to-do list. Personally, I like to separate mine between professional and personal tasks (i.e. parallel lists). This “shrinks” the sense that I have a mile-long-list, and gives me specific targets. For my clients, they also report a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment as they cross things off during the week. Sometimes, I also encourage them to build in a “reward” for getting certain tasks done on time. This tends to increase motivation and build a self-belief that they can manage life’s challenges.
Despite the perception that athletes have it easy, the reality is that managing multiple aspects of life can be more difficult than it is for other populations. While difficult, it is not impossible. Taking time to plan and organize often times provides a great sense of direction, as well as self-directed behavior. My hope is this may give you insight into your own process, or of an athlete you can help. Should you find yourself needing more help in this area, why wait? Make the call, bring in an expert.