AS SUMMER SEASON APPROACHES, REMEMBER THIS ONE THING: LESS IS MORE.
We live in an era where nothing really ever feels like enough. We are always seeking more. More practice time, more coaches, more hits, more lessons, more on our resume, more more more. It’s no wonder we see so many kids getting burnt out. I myself was one of these kids at 12 years old.
There was a time I told my parents I wanted to quit softball, and I did. I stopped playing and took time to focus on my first love, basketball. This time away gave me the space I needed to realize that softball is FUN and not WORK. I learned the art of balance at a young age and ultimately it let me come back stronger, more engaged, and even ahead of most players in my class. My prep softball career took off when I came back to the sport and I started to get recruited by top tier schools like Alabama, UCLA, Tennessee, and others.
Am I telling you to quit for a year so you can get recruited? No. But I am saying maybe what you need isn’t more reps or games, maybe you need a break. And you’re probably thinking “Halo you can’t write this in the middle of softball season I can’t take a break now.” I think now is the most important time to make taking breaks a part of your routine. Be intentional on a weekly basis, even in the middle of your season, to take a step back. Breathe. Refocus. Watch how productive you are when you come back to it. We cannot function in softball mode 24/7.
So how you can you slow down and do less?
- Make sure you are taking at least one day off. Completely unplug from softball and everything involved in it. Parents, do not bring up softball to your daughter unless she does so first. This is so helpful and allows everything in your brain to reset weekly and find clarity more consistently.
- One big goal a day. I think we always feel like there is more to do because we are moving so fast. You have school, softball, extracurriculars, friends, all these different things to worry about. One thing that has helped me tremendously is setting one goal, one thing to accomplish a day. I often ask myself when journaling “If I only did ONE thing today, would it be something I would be proud of?” It keeps things in perspective and helps me center my priorities. (Pro tip: the answer is not “Make a TikTok” or “Binge Netflix”). Think bigger. I repeat, would it be something you’re PROUD of. Do that, daily.
Less is truly more. Less leads to clarity, focus, consistency, productivity, stillness, and calm.
Take a break. You have permission.
