Isolation Can Make Time Management a Challenge For Students
By Dr. Ruth Ann Tetz, Sports Psychologist for The University of Toledo Department of Athletics
March 27, 2020
“I can’t seem to get things done”
During this time of monumental change, figuring out how to live in what is the new normal will take a lot of thought, planning, and follow-through. It sounds a lot like practicing for the next game, doesn’t it?
You, our UToledo student-athlete, has what it takes to get through these challenging times. If you’re not convinced that this is true, then think back on your past experiences on campus. There are plenty of examples where you had to figure out how to be successful as a Division-1 student-athlete. For example, when you knew your strength and conditioning session was schedules for 6:00 a.m. the next morning, you would plan how to get yourself there on time and in a shape so that you would benefit from your workout. When you were learning a series of new plays, you would take the time to figure them out so that you wouldn't let your team down at a critical time. There are plenty of times when you altered your behaviors for the good of yourself and your team.
What might seem different now is that you have fewer external forces pushing you to make the choices. But once you started making wise choices you were forever changed. Just like you can’t uncrack an egg, you can’t unlearn a skill. And the skill you learned was how to make good choices for your future benefit. In order to keep yourself strong and minimize your chances of injury for the next season, keeping up with your physical activity schedule during this offseason is important! Why would a blog for maintaining mental health talk about physicality? We know that maintaining physical activities helps us keep mentally sharp and upbeat. So keeping up with a training regimen will help you.
I’m hearing that with more time on your hands, it is more difficult to study and focus on academics. Much like training takes a commitment, so does school. But you have the skill-set to overcome this as well. When you were scheduling strength and conditioning, practice times, classes and games in the past, you were learning to do activity-scheduling. But now you have the power to schedule yourself. Either the night before or first thing in the morning, grab a paper and pencil and figure out what you need to accomplish today. Make sure you don’t schedule every single minute. Give yourself some free time to stay in touch with your friends or to decompress. What you would benefit most from scheduling during the school year are your study times and your conditioning times. What is most important to schedule are those activities that will prepare you for your future -- academically and as an athlete. Anything you put on paper, you will be more likely to accomplish. And if you want to get the most benefit out of this exercise, put start times next to the things you will do. So maybe 9:00 is English; 9:45 is a 30-minute run; 11:00 is open time. You choose the time and activity, and when you start it on time you are in control. Checking items off your activity schedule can feel like a reward itself.
Last week we talked about focusing on your successes as you were living in this changing world. This week we are considering how to feel more in control of your days. Each of the skills we are talking about can be used daily. Try them. If they are not exactly what you feel comfortable doing, change them so they fit your style. Feeling more in control of your reactions and behavior in this changing world will help. Take care of yourselves and…
Go Rockets!
NOTE: Dr. Tetz is sending regular communications to Rocket student-athletes throughout the current health crisis.
Previous Rocket Blogs
Many Challenges Are Ahead for Rocket Athletics (March 25, 2020)
Waking Up From a Perfect Dream to Face a New Reality (March 20, 2020)
Saranlak Tumfong Begins Fight Against Cancer (March 19, 2020)
Healthy Ways to Deal with Anxiety During a Health Crisis (March 18, 2020)
A Note From the Athletic Director: Stay Strong Rocket Nation! (March 17, 2020)
How Can We Live Without Sports? For Now, We Must (March 14, 2020)
They Call it March Madness for a Reason (March 10, 2020)
Networking Connects Student-Athletes to Potential Futures Outside of Their Sport (Feb. 28, 2020)
The Battle Against Breast Cancer is Everyone's Fight (Feb. 20, 2020)
Organ Donation is the Greatest Gift You Can Give (Feb. 12, 2020)
Rockets Keep Winning the Recruiting War (Feb. 6, 2020)
Candle's assistant coach hires are great news for the Rockets (Jan. 31, 2020)
