Managing Mid-Semester

Is it really the end of September? Already? If you’re like most college athletes, you have a pretty rigorous schedule. Maybe, like myself, you hardly noticed the time passing. It’s as though you woke up today and suddenly it is mid-season, mid-terms are rolling around, you can’t seem to find enough time to accomplish everything you need to, and you’re thoroughly frazzled. It’s surprisingly easy to become overwhelmed and lose your focus. As we near this mid-semester point, though, it is important to remind ourselves and our teammates and friends that there is a greater picture here. There are a lot of resources available to us to de-stress. The Health and Wellness office in the Student Union offers short massages, stress management tips, healthy snacks, and more. Dog therapy is generally offered several times a semester. Tutors and mentors are available upon request. As student athletes, we have access to the amazing athletics staff, which includes Kellie Pieper. She is a Sports Psychologist who can help you with any issue, whether it is a sports concern, a school issue, or a personal thing. We have team members who are likely willing to help us through the stress, as well. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help. So many of us are used harnessing our inner strength, which is fantastic. However, if we are continuously expending all of this energy and internalizing everything, the stress will catch up to us eventually. Every Division One athlete has an inner warrior, but we also have a whole team full of people just as strong as we are. Not everyone can make that claim, so we may as well utilize these resources. Never be afraid to voice your concerns to others – often the person will be able to relate and offer advice to remedy the problem. Take short study breaks to do something you enjoy, and believe me, you will make it through this!