How to Make Self-Care a Priority in Your Pro Cheer Life
Self-care is the habit of putting your physical, psychological, spiritual, and emotional well-being first before anyone else’s. Others say it’s an act of selfishness. It’s not. It’s one of the secrets to living a fulfilling life and achieving your dreams.
Here are the reasons why you should make self-care a priority as an aspiring and current pro cheerleader and how to do it.
Why Is Self-Care Important As A Current Or Aspiring Pro Cheerleader?
As you know, high confidence and self-esteem are essential traits that every aspiring and current pro cheerleader should have. You need to answer the judges in the auditions clearly and smile in front of crowds.
For you to be self-confident, you need to have a healthy relationship with yourself and self-care is one way to build that kind of connection. Without self-care, you’ll feel grumpy, shy, unsure, or distant most of the time.
That’s the total opposite of being a pro cheerleader. Self-care is also important in audition prep because you’ll be sure to face a lot of challenges ahead. Taking care of your own keeps you happy on the preparation journey. It also aids you in achieving your personal and pro cheer goals, ambitions, and dreams.
9 Tips To Make Self-Care A Priority Starting Now
1. Ask yourself what you really need at the moment
Feeling stressed from audition prep or arena cheerleading and want to go swimming? Then ready your swimwear and go to any resort you want. As long as you don’t have any deadlines to fulfill, do what you need to do.
2. Take the snowball approach
This is a common excuse people say when trying self-care or anything else new in their life: “I don’t have time.” Don’t be like this. You must start small and build from there. For example, start by limiting the amount of junk food you eat in a week. Then progress to eating real foods daily.
3. Make it a daily habit
Once you’ve finally discovered you can actually do self-care, turn it into an everyday routine. Here’s a secret to building habits: Make it an important task. Then, remind yourself every day of it until you’re hardwired to do it automatically.
4. Hone self-compassion
Failures of action and disappointing events are normal. What matters is you don’t beat yourself up for it. If you didn’t get to exercise today, don’t say fitness is never going to work for you. Forgive yourself, move on, do better next time, and stay persistent.
5. Put yourself first
We all have friends, families, and colleagues that we spend time with or fulfill requests to. But sometimes spending time or doing their requests overlaps our own needs. The truth is, you aren’t obligated to follow every other people’s request.
If you want time for self-care, audition prep, or squad activities then give it to yourself. Don’t ask permission from others. As mentioned above: “Do what you really need to do.”
6. Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night
Self-care is also about giving yourself proper rest and energy. That’s why you should follow a regular sleeping schedule. Putting your devices away an hour before going to bed will help you do that. Sleep early and wake up early so that you’ll rise from your bed with radiating happiness.
7. Be deaf to naysayers
Do you encounter people who talk behind you saying that you can’t be a pro cheerleader or don’t deserve to be one? Don’t listen to them. You don’t owe them anything. Keep on doing your thing.
8. Be playful
Never forget to have fun. Cuddle with your partner or your pet. Watch comedy till you laugh your butt out. Play games in any form. But don’t forget to disregard your surroundings and pro cheer responsibilities.
9. Ask for support
Need help with self-care? Don’t be afraid to seek assistance. You can talk to your therapist, partner, family member, friend, colleague, or another pro cheerleader. Be sure to choose someone who’s very supportive and trustworthy to confide with.
Do you put other people’s needs first and feel unhappy with your life because of it? Unless you’re a mother, you should stop living that way. Get help. Learn to say no. Your life is in your own hands and you don’t owe anybody anything. If you have career or pro cheer ambitions, focus on them. Get them done. Don’t let anyone say otherwise or stop you.
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