By Priscilla Tallman 

Most athletes don’t want to admit that they could use a little more balance in their lives. Balance does not fit into the athlete’s “all or nothing” mentality; however, finding balance is a skill that will not only benefit your athletic performance, but will also help you find success beyond your sport. Here are seven tips to help you find balance in your life.

1. Get a life.

Your sport is your life! I get it, trust me. But finding a separate group of friends or family members is an important part of leading an emotionally balanced life. You don’t always get to choose your teammates, but you do get to select your friends. Join a club, bond with athletes from other sports or find other ways to interact with people other than your teammates.

2. You aren’t your sport.

Or at least you aren’t only your sport all the time. To be successful and compete at a high level, you have to be immersed in your sport. You have to live, breathe, sleep and eat your chosen pursuit. It’s a trade you make when you decide to go for something fully and wholeheartedly. But understand that your actions and your training are different than who you are. You were somebody before you started playing sports and you will be someone once you stop. Ask yourself: Who would I be without this sport? If you can’t answer this question, re-read point No. 1.

3. Transitions take time.

No matter what kind of transition you’re going through, be realistic about the time it will take to process. Whether it’s rehabbing an injury, changing teams, ending a school season to begin a club season, know that some transitions take more time than others. Irritability, stress, anxiety and depression sometimes result when we try to white-knuckle through a transition. Touch base with a coach, teammate, mentor, therapist or group of friends if you find yourself overwhelmed about making a change.

You were somebody before you started playing sports and you will be someone once you stop.

4. Get a mentor.

Everyone needs somebody in their life who has walked the road they are headed down. See if your school or club sports team has a mentor program. Mentors can be former teammates, coaches, alumni, your parents or anyone who can stand in the gap during transitions or confusing times. Athletes are tough people used to pushing through difficult times, but we are not immune to ebbs and flows of life.

5. Volunteer or serve.

Put the time when you aren’t training to good use. Even if you just have a couple of hours on the weekend, find an organization to get hooked up with and serve. Whatever it is that interest you, find something related to that. Feeding the homeless, coaching young athletes, speaking to youth programs, cleaning up your community or painting over graffiti, reading in classrooms or visiting people in the hospital, there are plenty of ways to serve and give back.

Athletes are tough people used to pushing through difficult times, but we are not immune to ebbs and flows of life.

6. Play for fun.

Balance can often be found when we turn off our “win at all cost” mentality and go out and have some fun. Pick an activity other than your sport and get out and play or be creative. Don’t worry, you don’t have to totally shut down your competitive nature.

7. Practice gratitude.

As an athlete it’s easy to fall into the trap that everything needs to be better than it was yesterday. Your work is never done. Just do it. Be more, and all that jazz. But before you go there, stop and find three things to be grateful for every day: your health, your passion to play, your body that allows you to do what you love, your family, your supportive friends, the coach who pushes you, your favorite t-shirt, a loyal pet… You get the idea. Stop and be grateful.