Take Time for Yourself

The summer is flying by and for a person who has off in the summer, it can get depressing when you know the mid way point is approaching. Although this summer has moved quickly, it has been one full of new adventures and growth as both a person and a coach.

It is nice to have the summer to review what you have learned and grow, however not everyone has this option. Whether you are a full time professional coach or a hobby volunteer, I believe it is important for both to take time and grow in both coaching and personal aspects. This summer I took time out for myself to recharge my batteries and challenge myself in ways I never have before. In pushing myself to different limits I was able to think about my upcoming season and how there will be new challenges this year to evaluate and tackle. Taking the time to grow personally will ultimately help me as a coach to be in better mental shape for my athletes. In the past, I have filled my summers with a lot of other things and never took the time to just enjoy my time and do something I want to do for a day, weekend or week.

I talk to a lot of other coaches who run themselves into the ground and by the time the season takes off they feel like they might be going through the motions. It is very easy to allow your passion become a chore when you do not allow yourself to take a step back and recover even when you love what you do. Don’t let yourself get to this point. I hope we all as adults make the conscious decision to do something for ourselves, which in the end will only end up benefiting your team in the long run.