Texas was hit by Hurricane Harvey last year. During that time, I wrote an article “Staying Fit and Healthy During Times of Distress.” While Hurricane Florence continues to batter the east coast, I thought it was a good time to revisit keys to surviving times of distress. Here are a few tips for beating the stress with your health in tack.
Visualize the Overall Goal
All collegiate programs have an end of season goal. Why compete if you don’t care about attaining things? These goals are team-oriented, individual-oriented, or both. During times of distress, it is important to visualize your overall goal. Things may seem too heavy to handle at times, but we all know how great reaching a goal feels. Sit in a quiet room. Think of where you want to be in 3 months. 6 months. Even a year. Feel how you would if you attained that goal. Feels great. Don’t it?
Live in the Facts
Football games are scripted in the beginning for the offense. They do this to get an idea of how the defense plans to attack them in different formations. The last thing a coach wants to do is guess what play to run to have success. They need the facts. When dealing with stress, it is important to live in the facts. Whether its relationship problems, financial issues, or your health, you must control your emotions by dealing with the facts you know. Do not waste energy thinking about the ‘what ifs.” By dealing with the facts, you can better develop the plan for reaching your goals and survive times of distress
Eat a Snack…in Moderation
Today’s athletes at the highest levels of collegiate sports get treated well when it comes to their diet. Schools are building student-athlete centers with fine dining establishments that cater to the needs of high-level athletes. But we all could use a little time off the strictness of healthy nutrition guidance. Countless studies have shown the effects eating has on stress. During times of distress, eat a snack. Get some dessert. Get some candy. Find that one item you have been craving. Eat it, enjoy it, but do it in moderation.
We all go through times of despair and stress. It is how we handle those times that allows us to pull ourselves up, tread in our own sorrows, or sink under the weight of stress. Start by visualizing your goal in a quiet place. Use the facts you have to develop a plan of action. Enjoy the simple things in life like dessert or candy.