A Pro Cheerleader's Guide to Dealing with Stress
You are not just a cheerleader, but you are also a mom, daughter, student, friend, and professional. The demands of the cheerleading sport and your career can easily take a toll on your health and well-being. To live a well-balanced and happy life, you must learn how to manage stress. Doing so will benefit not just you, but also the people around you. Read these tips:
1. Practice relaxation techniques.
Relaxation techniques such as massage, deep breathing, and meditation help to reduce stress. Practicing even one technique allows you to be more aware of stress when it happens. There are a lot of free apps that can guide you through relaxation.
2. Stop creating drama.
Drama destroys your mood. It drains your energy. And guess what? We often create drama without realizing it. One thing we do that start drama is making negative assumptions about others and situations. Keep in mind that it's not always about you. Learn to let it go.
3. Get enough rest and sleep.
Daily stressors can eventually get on your nerves. The next thing you know, you feel exhausted. Schedule breaks. Find a sleeping schedule that based on your regular routine (which includes evening pro cheer rehearsals). Avoid electronics and bright lights before bedtime.
4. Set reasonable expectations.
While everyone sets expectations for themselves, usually, these expectations are unrealistic. No matter how energetic and enthusiastic you are as a professional cheerleader, you can't be everything to everyone. Evaluate your personal expectations based on your schedule, the people you have in your life, and responsibilities outside of professional cheerleading.
5. Thank yourself for what you do.
Do you thank yourself for not giving up? For working so hard to get to where you are today? If there's anyone you should be thanking each day, that's yourself. Even in times of weakness, thank yourself for giving yourself permission to eat that chocolate cake.
7. Schedule joy.
Stop giving other people and situations the power to make you happy. There are countless opportunities to feel happiness and those opportunities are within your control. I encourage you to make a list of things you must do to spark joy in your life. Whether that's a vacation with your family, a coffee date with a cheer sister, or alone time for reading, it doesn't matter.
While stress is inevitable as a professional cheerleader, you can keep it under control by practicing relaxation techniques, letting go of unnecessary drama, getting enough sleep, setting reasonable expectations, thanking yourself, and scheduling happiness.
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