6 Easy Ways Coaches Can Practice Self-Care

 

As a busy coach, the idea of making time for self-care can seem overwhelming or even unimportant compared to the endless tasks on your list. But carving out time to take care of yourself will significantly help your body and mind, while also making you a better coach and a better role model for your athletes. For example, as athletes see you practice self-care, they’ll learn how to prioritize their own well-being too.

Here, TrueSport Expert and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Melissa Streno, explains what exactly self-care means, how to add it to your busy schedule, and how to help your athletes do the same.

1. Understand What Self-Care Is (And Isn't)

To determine the best ways to incorporate self-care into your life, it's important to understand what self-care is and what it isn't. For athletes and coaches, Streno explains that it’s common to think of self-care in a purely physical, 'health-focused' context that involves stretching more, eating only healthy foods, and trying to perfect a sleep schedule. While these activities are important, Streno warns against becoming hyper-fixated on these activities or doing them for the wrong reasons.

"Self-care should be self-maintenance, things that make someone feel good, makes their life feel easier, boosts their mood, or helps contribute to health outcomes," says Streno. "It should be enjoyable, not a chore."

Simply put, self-care is the act of taking time for yourself and finding activities that help you slow down, rest, recharge, and reconnect, she adds. It can be focused on your physical health—but focus on mental and emotional health is just as important. Busy coaches may not have time for self-care cliches like bubble baths on a daily basis, but Streno notes that self-care can be as simple as putting on a 'good mood' playlist as you drive to work and really listening to the music.

2. Get Vocal About Your Self-Care Practices

Self-care is as important for your athletes as it is for you, and you can help your athletes find their versions of self-care by sharing your own experiences. You don't need to give them all the details, but you can share that you gave yourself a 60-minute break to decompress and relax the night before.

"Athletes are sponges, and they model the behaviors and practices that they see, especially from people they look up to, like coaches," Streno says. "If they see that you're making time to take care of yourself, they're going to be influenced by that. So, when you model self-care and make it clear that it's a priority, they'll begin to understand how critical it is to their overall health and well-being."