Hey there my fellow student athletes! Is it difficult for you to manage the load of academics, athletics, and overall life in general? Well trust me, I've been there, and I know what it's like. It is not easy for a student athlete to be successful in both the classroom, on the field, and in all other things going on in their life. But don't you worry, by utilizing the right strategies you can be able to overcome any obstacles and enjoy success in both academics and athletics. As part of this blog post, I will be sharing practical tips, insights, and suggestions that will help you manage your stress as a student athlete in an effective and healthy way, so you can achieve your goals. Not only that but here you will also have a combination of personal experiences along with expert advice, where you may find relatable and useful. Having said that, let's get started!  

Understanding Student Athletes' Stress and Finding Your Rhythm

As student athletes, we face many stressful situations. From demanding training schedules to academic pressures, it can feel like we are in mission impossible. The high levels of stress we experience as student athletes can significantly impact our performance. When we're stressed, we have trouble focusing, get anxious, and get tired, which makes training and competition more difficult. This is why it is crucial for us to find effective strategies to manage and alleviate this stress to optimize our performance. According to Jordan Miller, assistant women's volleyball coach at North Central College, “The biggest stressors we see in student-athletes come from the lack of time management, performance pressure from their sport, increased time commitments to academics and athletics, and trying to find and identify their athletic identity [...] Student-athletes also have an additional 30+ hours a week dedicated to their sport during their season on top of school and work.” The stress that students face can lead to burnout, anxiety, and other mental health issues, in addition to causing them to fall behind in their academic performance. That is why it is important for student-athletes to manage their time and commitments effectively to gain balance in their life.

We all know that as student athletes, we face a lot of unique stressors that maybe regular college students do not, which is why we must recognize them to best fix them. The key to success as a student athlete is the ability to manage your time effectively and organize yourself. It is all about finding out what will work best for you, your rhythm, and how you can maximize your productivity. A good way to stay organized during the school year is to create a detailed schedule that balances the academic and athletic commitments, to prioritize tasks according to the deadlines and importance of the tasks, to break larger assignments down into smaller, more manageable chunks, and to use tools like planners and digital calendars to help keep track of tasks. It is also a good idea to let your teachers and coaches know your schedule so they can provide support if it is needed. As current student and volleyball player at North Central College Aidan Brown shares, “Determine which tasks or activities are most important and allocate time accordingly. Prioritize tasks based on deadlines, importance, and impact on your academic and athletic performance.” Having a clear schedule and knowing that your teachers and coaches are aware of it will help them provide you with the support you need to be successful in your academic and athletic pursuits. Additionally, it will help you manage your time better and ensure that you are making the most of your day. Knowing that to achieve your full potential, you need to set clear goals and expectations for yourself and be proactive in your time management.

Stress Management Techniques for Student Athletes

When the pressure starts to hit you, having a toolbox of stress management tips can be helpful. Whether it's breathing exercises, listening to music, meditation, etc., find what is right for you. Having a stress management strategy that works for you is important, because what works for you might not work for someone else. Every person has their own preferences, coping mechanisms, and triggers, so it's best to experiment and find what works for you. By doing this, you'll have a toolbox of stress-relieving strategies. Miller suggests making lists. She says, “When I write out everything that needs to be completed, even though it may seem intimidating, it keeps tasks organized and decreases stress after task completion.” This is an example of a task-management technique that can help to reduce stress. By writing down what needs to be done, it breaks it down into smaller, more manageable pieces, making it easier to prioritize and focus on the most important tasks first. Additionally, having an organized to do list can help to provide a sense of control, which can reduce stress. Miller also suggests Guided imagery. She says, “Guided imagery allows an individual to identify their stressor and imagine how they want the situation to play out. This technique gives positive affirmations that the student-athletes can get through their stressful time.” This technique allows the student athletes to see their desired outcome, which can help them to reduce their stress levels and feel more confident in their ability to succeed. It also gives them a chance to practice their coping skills in a safe environment, which can help them gain more control over their emotions. With all of these strategies in mind, it is possible for you student athletes to be motivated and focused when working through stressful times.