A New Chapter

As an athlete, fall can usually mean the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Whether it is a new season, new school year, or new experience, it can get a bit overwhelming.

I have recently started a completely new chapter of my life.

I have moved out of the country for the first time and have begun to pursue my dream as a professional soccer player. It is all so new, and it has definitely been overwhelming. I would be lying if I said I've been handling it all well, but I know I will learn. Since this is a new time in my life, I started to think about all of the other athletes out there. It is the end of July, and August is just around the corner.

Fall brings a new season, a new year, and a new beginning to a lot of athletes.

For some, it may mean coming to college for the first time and anticipating their first collegiate preseason. Others could be preparing for a big school year. Whatever fall may bring to you, I know it's not easy. When a new season comes up in our lives, it always is accompanied by hard work, pressure, and expectations. I remember pushing my body to the limits to prepare for the new fall season when I was in college. Around July, my worries had always gravitated towards my fitness and whether or not I was ready to perform. Along with fitness, each new season had something new that I was focused on as well.

Let's talk about the fall of 2017, going into my junior year in college soccer.

I had just finished an incredible season with a lot of recognition and awards. I was all over media as "2016 Player of the Year" and "2016 Forward of the Year," and people were anticipating what I had coming in 2017. The recognition was nice, but it was a lot. My coaches met with me and explained that I needed to be prepared for the expectations that others will have of me after such a successful season. I was scared, and I felt that pressure. Going into that fall, I was constantly thinking about how I was playing, and if I would live up to everybody's expectations. Needless to say, all the worrying affected how I played. I was hesitant, worried, and focused on the wrong things. Fall of 2017 ended up being the worst season in my collegiate career, and it was all because I had dealt with everything in the wrong way.

This fall, I find myself going through the same patterns as 2017... and I am determined to change that before it's too late!

As I arrived in Iceland, I had no clue what to expect. The day I arrived, I was told that my new team needed somebody to score goals for them... and that they were counting on me (no pressure!). Every teammate I met would ask me what position I was, and say something like "oh good, we really need somebody to score for us... no pressure though!" Yeah... that's a lot of pressure. Let me tell you what I was coming from: I was in bed for about a week prior to leaving America because I was sick with a bad fever. The offer and signing process happened unexpectedly, and I left the country only two days after I got the news! I took many bathroom breaks to wipe my nasty fever sweats during the 24 hour travel day to get to Iceland, and was covered in hives. I was worried that I would not live up to their expectations, and that I would disappoint. For the past two weeks, I have been playing with fear of disappointing others. I felt out of it, and not like my normal self. So I took some self reflection time and am beginning to figure out what I need to do in this new chapter of my life.

When life brings you a new chapter, it can be extremely overwhelming.

I don't know what you may be going through right now. I don't know what your worries are, your mental kryptonite for the season, or your crippling anxieties. But what I do know is that so many athletes have a hard time adjusting to a new chapter in life. It is mentally exhausting, and you tend to get so many things thrown at you at once. Sometimes you want to focus on preparation for your athletic season, but new classes, team drama, or maybe a sickness can pop up and be the tipping point for a major meltdown (trust me, been there many times). No matter your case, you can help manage what you are feeling. Here are just a few ways I have learned to adjust to a new season and all that overwhelms me.

Focus on yourself.

You know all of that external pressure and stress that you may be feeling? None of it is going to help you perform how you need to. Yes, it's true that pressure can help an athlete play well, but too much can be mentally debilitating. Many athletes find themselves in a pit of depression or suffering from crippling anxiety attacks because of the mental stress they feel during season. It can become a lot to deal with... especially if we expect to conquer everything on our to-do list immediately.

When we are overwhelmed, we sometimes forget about ourselves. We forget about our mental state and how important it is to have a healthy mind in order to perform. If you are feeling pressure from a new season in your life, take time to tune it out. Remember who you are and all that you have accomplished up until this point. Take those external expectations and throw them away for a little. Make sure you give yourself moments to think about what your OWN goals and expectations are instead of other's expectations for you. In the end, you know yourself better than anybody else. You know what you need, and you know your potential. If you want to, sit down and take time to write what your strengths are and how you can use those in the new season. Remembering who you are and what you are capable of can help relieve a lot of pressure from everything around you.

Take time, daily, to meditate.

Meditation can mean something different for each person: meditation, prayer, yoga, time outside, walks alone, time away from technology. Whatever it is that gives you a moment of bliss, remember to give yourself that every day. Athletes are naturally competitive, and we like to overload ourselves with so much to do... Study dates, lunch breaks, weight room sessions, extra fitness. It is great to keep yourself busy, but try to fit in some form of meditation.

As we work our bodies to their limits in this new season, we need time to recover... both physically and mentally. Meditation, in whatever form it may be to you, gives us time to reconnect with ourselves and tune in to how we are feeling. We often forget to give ourselves time to sit in our own minds and observe our emotions. Every day, I like to have a set time to sit somewhere alone and pray. Praying helps me assess how I have been performing both as an athlete and a human, and gives me an outlet for self-evaluation. During this time of meditation, think about what has been working for you. How is your attitude throughout the day? Is your work ethic where it needs to be? What is bothering you? If you are giving time to think about yourself every day, you will learn to be more in tune with your needs when you are overwhelmed.

Finally... Have some fun.

Athletes can put a lot of pressure on themselves during season... I know I do. Sometimes I miss out on fun social gatherings or leisure time when I am so focused on preparation for the next practice or competition. I can't tell you how many times I regret saying "I think I'll sit this one out" to somebody because I was putting so much into my athletic life. Yes... as an athlete it is basically your job to perform well, but it is so important to have some fun too!

Through all of the stress you may be feeling, remember that this is the time of your life. Being an athlete may seem like the hardest thing in the world at times, but when it's all over you will miss it. Have fun with your teammates. Create bonds that will last a lifetime. Of course you will encounter times where you will bicker and fight, but in the end your teammates are the only ones who can relate to what you are going through. Enjoy the times in the locker rooms before practices and games. Spend extra time out of your sport with friends. Explore new places. Create many moments of laughter.

It is never fun living in a season of worry and stress.

It is almost inevitable to feel overwhelmed at times in this new season... But learn ways that individually help you in the hard times. If any of these methods can help you, then great. Spend this season focusing more on yourself, on meditation, and on fun. When you can relieve some of that pressure from your life, you can then play freely. I have always found that when I am less stressed, my performance improves. It's because I am having fun playing the sport I love.

Athlete, I know it's not always easy to start a new chapter. I know you will sometimes cry, feel so sore that you can't move, and get loaded with work... But bringing methods that promote self-analysis and self-care will benefit you greatly. I hope you will give yourself time to relax and escape from all that may overwhelm you so that you can have more time to perform the way you know how to!

Here's to fall: a new chapter, a new season.