“When the Game Never Stops”: Stress Management for Student-Athletes
Hey, athlete — let’s talk.
You’ve got practice, school, workouts, maybe a part-time job, a social life (if you’re lucky), and somewhere in there you’re supposed to sleep and not lose your mind.
Yeah… I get it.
As someone who works with athletes all the time, I see how easy it is to get caught in the “go-go-go” mode. You’re used to pushing through, showing up, performing — even when your body or your brain is screaming for a break. But here’s the thing: stress isn’t just about being busy. It’s about how heavy everything starts to feel when you’re trying to keep all those plates spinning.
The Pressure Is Real
People love to say, “Wow, it must be so fun being an athlete!”
And yeah — it is fun. But it’s also a lot.
You’ve got coaches expecting effort, teachers expecting grades, maybe parents expecting results, and sometimes you expect perfection from yourself. You start to feel like there’s no room for mistakes. No space to just… breathe.
That’s when stress sneaks in — when the game starts feeling less like a passion and more like a job you can’t quit.
Here’s the Truth: You Don’t Have to Be “On” All the Time
One of the hardest things for athletes to accept is that rest isn’t lazy — it’s necessary.
If your body needs recovery after a workout, your mind does too.
You don’t have to earn your downtime. You don’t have to be productive every second.
Sometimes, balance looks like saying, “No, I can’t take on one more thing today,” or “Yeah, I need a night to just chill and not think about my stats.”
That’s not weakness — that’s wisdom.
Little Things That Actually Help
You don’t need a fancy plan or a 10-step routine to manage stress. Try small stuff that fits your life:
Catch your breath. A few deep breaths between classes or before practice can reset your head faster than you think.
Laugh with your teammates. Connection lowers stress more than any meditation app ever could.
Talk it out. Whether it’s a friend, a parent, or a therapist (hi), putting words to what you’re feeling makes it lighter.
You’re More Than Your Game
You might be known as “the athlete,” but that’s just one part of who you are.
You’re also a student, a friend, a kid figuring things out, a person who’s allowed to have off days.
And you don’t need to carry it all perfectly. You just need to care for yourself the same way you care about your sport. Because the truth is, when you take care of your mental health, your game gets stronger too — not just on the field, but in life.
Warmly,
Abbey Vince, AMFT
