Ever shown up to the courts with your brain juggling everything except your match? Been there, done that—and let’s just say, those matches didn’t exactly make my highlight reel, even if I did manage to squeak out an occasional win.
Stress happens to the best of us, and it has a sneaky way of showing up everywhere. If you’re feeling like life’s got you running in circles, try these tips and see if you can dial down the stress (and maybe even have a little more fun).
Stay in the present moment.
It’s way too easy to burn up your brainpower replaying past mistakes—like double faulting away yesterday’s match—or stressing about future disasters (double faulting next week, anyone?). When you catch your mind time-traveling, try to reel it back in and focus on what’s happening right now.
You can’t rewrite the past and your crystal ball probably isn’t working, so your best bet is to put your energy into the present. Make a habit of it and you’ll be surprised how much brighter the future starts to look.
Reduce your commitments.
Overcommitting is a one-way ticket to Stressville, and you might not even realize you’ve boarded the train. Sure, it sounds great to be team captain, volunteer at XYZ, be a den mother, tutor your neighbor’s kid, and hold down a full-time job. But unless you’ve figured out how to add extra hours to the day, something’s gotta give.
If your calendar looks like a game of Tetris, it’s only a matter of time before you hit the stress wall. Figure out what you actually want to do versus what you have to do. This might mean saying no more often (sorry, not sorry), letting a few people down, or asking for help until you catch up—but your stress levels will thank you.
Get more sleep.
Science says not getting enough sleep is basically an open invitation for stress to move in. If you’re running on fumes, you’ll feel cranky, spacey, and about as productive as a broken ball machine—on and off the court. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep and see how much better you feel (and play).
Get organized.
Let’s be honest: life would be a whole lot less stressful if we got a bit more organized. If you let chaos decorate your living space, lose your keys on a daily basis, or can’t find that one important document to save your life, it might be time to add a little structure.
Try cleaning up as you go, making files, keeping a calendar, or always putting your keys in the same spot. Start decluttering and getting organized, and watch your stress levels take a nosedive.
Nobody’s living a totally stress-free life, but that doesn’t mean you have to let stress run the show. Try out these tips and see if you can stress less and enjoy life more—on the courts and everywhere else.
