5 Simple Strategies for Pro Cheerleaders to Carve Out Time for Self Care

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Pro cheerleaders juggle rehearsals, charity events, road tours, and on top of that have their day jobs and personal lives; all while maintaining a high standard of appearance required of pro cheerleaders. With that in mind, self-care should be non-negotiable.

Today’s post will help you find those nuggets of time when you can focus on caring for your greatest asset—your health; because you can’t afford to get sick or look drab.

1. Set an appointment with yourself

You may have learned the hard way that practice time is sacred for pro cheerleaders. You can’t arrive late if you don’t want to be penalized and your dedication questioned.

From now on, view self-care as you do your practices. That means to set self-care time in stone. See to it you eat on time, get adequate beauty rest, and have a fun fitness regimen.

When you write down your schedule, prioritize time for self-care first. So now you know you can’t binge on Netflix because you are scheduled to sleep at 10 pm and you don’t do anything else before you finish your power routine in the morning.

2. Have a healthy morning routine

Self-care can get lost in the hustle and bustle of the day. So make self-care a top priority the moment you wake up. This may mean having to wake up earlier before your other responsibilities start.

A healthy morning routine for cheerleaders includes heart-pumping exercise. A morning workout can wake you up sans caffeine and give you the boost you need to feel great all day.

Try exercises you can do in 10 minutes or less. A powerful morning workout can include planks, jumping exercises, and a HIIT workout.

And don’t forget to have a healthy breakfast. A healthy fruit and yogurt smoothie is a great way to start your day and can also help you recover from your morning workout.

3. Maximize your day off

Do you use your time off from practices to run errands and do household chores? If you keep this up, you will burn out soon and need a long vacation at the wrong timing.

Plan something to look forward to on your day off. Don’t just sleep in, do chores, and end up still feeling tired. Get a full-body massage. If you can’t afford to go to the spa, let your partner or your kids give you a great massage.

Spend time with your family and friends. You don’t need to go out and spend a lot of money. You can have a staycation while playing games and enjoying a potluck lunch.

4. Reward yourself

After the playoffs, after losing 5 pounds, or completing a big project at work, pat yourself on the back and celebrate your wins.

Again, you don’t have to spend a lot to reward yourself, but these rewards will be great to look forward to.

You can read a favorite book, listen to your kind of music, go on a walk or a drive. Even a long, unrushed bath where you just feel the drops of water on you can be relaxing.

5. Breathe

When you feel overwhelmed and stressed out, take a moment to be by yourself and just focus on your breathing.

Give out a long exhale first, as a sign of letting go of all the weight on your shoulders (not the flyer, of course).

Then breathe in the positivity and the new energy. Repeat a positive mantra that you tell yourself to be optimistic. Even a minute of focusing on your breath can do wonders for your sanity.

Parting Words

Your body is your greatest asset. If you are not in tiptop condition, you’ll be sending the wrong vibes at practice. You can’t perform your best if you are not looking and feeling your best.

So take small steps and commit to self-care. With a healthy morning routine, scheduled appointments with yourself, a reward system, stopping for deep breaths, and making the most of your day off, you can better care for yourself and enjoy the pro cheer life.

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