19 February 2013
There is a great deal of change going on in sport at present. Sports have been presented with their investment for the next 4 years, and we are seeing a number of sports relocating to different towns with Triathlon and Bike both moving to Cambridge. The implications that this has on athletes has highlighted the level of adjustment athletes are needing to face, and presents a reminder that any big changes in life do require conscious thought processes to determine how we react to these changes.
The change could be a permanent one, short term transition, voluntary or involuntary.
Common changes you might face on a shorter term basis include:
– Relocating to a different town, training venue or country
– Academic Transition from one institution to another
– Squad Change (junior to senior squad, different franchise, or team)
– Refocus/Redirection
– Overseas Scholarships
– Illness or Injury
– De-selection and then re-selection
– Having a dual career
So how do we face these changes, and pop out the other side better as not just an athlete but also as a person? The skills you learn as an athlete provide you with a good grounding for coping with changes on a daily basis on life including personal relationships, career, employment or job changes or financial situations, stress.
There are a bunch of thoughts and processes you might be going through including:
- Not easily being able to identify the support available to you and who you can talk to (family, social and peer support)
- Finding it hard to acknowledge that you might need time to adjust to the impending changes
- You might experience any of the following (sense of loss, anger, grief, depression, frustration and self esteem) - grief cycle
- You might experience feeling disconnected, lonely, a loss of identity, friendships or a fear of failure
- You might have a sense of feeling like you are no longer in control of your future (new goals, focus and expectations)
- You might want to keep the changes to yourself with a sense of pride or not wanting to admit how you are feeling to others
There are a number of really positive things that can come out of change including:
- Improved self identity and self awareness
- Increased mental skill and toughness
- Increase in motivation
- Better skills in time and stress management
- Personal growth and development
As an athlete I went through many changes with numerous different coaches, selection and non-selection, injury and after a sporting career of over 10 years then retirement. I learnt as an athlete to always focus on the end goal and not get too caught up in changes that I couldn't control, but at the time I remember feeling pretty angry and frustrated about some of the changes that occurred that I didn't agree with!
Since retiring as an athlete I've transitioned from having a career and then to being a Mum and part time career. On top of that we've relocated from Auckland to Christchurch and lived through the numerous Christchurch quakes!
One of the key points I've learnt is around determining what you can control. Kids has been a great reality check in that department. You can't control having a complete lack of sleep for 6 months or more, no matter how hard I've tried. The only thing I can control is how I adapt to the changes I'm faced with.
So these are the steps I try to follow for myself:
1. Allow yourself a bit of time to freak out, get frustrated, and rant and rave to loved ones
2. Then step back and take in all the facts
3. Determine how you want to respond and what your end goal is
4. When responding, consider what YOU can control, focus on this
5. Provide feedback that is constructive and provides solutions to the changes
6. Look at positive opportunities that come out of impact of change
Example: 12.51pm 22nd February 2011
1. Earthquake hits - scream a little, pick up newborn baby and dive under the table, freak out, and go into a bit of shock
2. Determine family are safe, assess mess and damage
2. Determine family are safe, assess mess and damage
3. Decide to clean up mess, stay strong and get on with life
4. Realise I can't impact on after shocks coming, can only deal with them
5. Decide to get away, so head to Auckland with kids for a month.
Other example: Potential job change presented to me
1. Find out proposed changes, self esteem takes a dive and then frustration sets in
2. Start looking at impact of change, what it means
3. Consider what my options are and put together alternate suggestions
4. Give feedback on job change and then accept it is now outside my control
5. Look at the positives that might come out of it - other opportunities
CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL
USE YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK AROUND YOU
ACCEPT THAT YOUR CONFIDENCE OR SELF ESTEEM MIGHT TAKE A SHORT TERM HIT
LOOK AT
POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT EXIST FROM CHANGES
Change is hard, and sustaining it in the long term is even harder. Use the skills you use as an athlete when training, creating new hope, new thinking and new skills. Surround yourself with people that can support you in these areas.
Energy management is key during change. Establishing rituals and routines (your recovery) is just as important as what you actually do - the same as when you are training.
For help, tools or guidance with any changes you might be going through, contact your Athlete Life Advisor.
Change is hard, and sustaining it in the long term is even harder. Use the skills you use as an athlete when training, creating new hope, new thinking and new skills. Surround yourself with people that can support you in these areas.
Energy management is key during change. Establishing rituals and routines (your recovery) is just as important as what you actually do - the same as when you are training.
For help, tools or guidance with any changes you might be going through, contact your Athlete Life Advisor.
