No time for eating, sleeping, or friends?

Question

I am an elite level swimmer. Every morning i have to get up at 5:00am for swim practice and I don't get home til 8:15am. I can't take a nap because i babysit right after that. At 2:25 I have to go back to the pool for 2 1/2 hours. Than I have to take a shower, eat dinner, and by the time all of that gets done It is time for bed. I get up the next morning and repeat that prossess again. I am getting really tired and stressed out. It is effecting my preformance at swim meets. I keep adding time. I work 100% at swim practice and it is not getting me anywhere. What should I do.

Answer 1

Your on the National Team? Where do u live? Also every swimmer is in the same boat and of course it gets stressful, but u have to take it once practice at a time.  I feel the same way too some times but you forget all about that when u swim fast at a meet.  Dont let the small unrested meets let u down.  That what u have to keep telling urself  "it will be worth it".  Everything else outside swimming might look really fun, but i'll tell u one thing that u probably already know, SWIMMING FAST IS FUN and u know that amazing feeling after having a great race?  Thats what u have to work for.

Answer 2

I know how you feel.  The work will pay off in the end if you stick it out long enough.  Swimming is just one of those sports where results are rarely instant.  If you're having a really hard time talk to you coach you might not be ready for this type of schedule at you age (physically).  Also if you are going through puberty this happens to everyone.  You get really emotional (stressed) and your body is changing so you don't get better for a while, but i have no idea how old you are so it might not be relevant.  The biggest thing that i learned to do is just be with friends while you are doing other things.  like today i had to pack for a swim trip and my friend came over and we jsut talked while i packed.

Answer 3

I'm in the same boat but that is the price we pay to do a sport we love. Swimming is one of the most involved sports there is and you have to sacrifice somethings you would rather do. I understand that you have to babysit your brother but talk to your parents, tell them how you feel and maybe you won't have to babysit as much. Sleep anywhere and everywhere you can and cut back on the stress which I'm assuming is from you worrying about your failing times and your lack of sleep (its a vicious cycle).

Also talk to your coaches. I understand you can't cut practices and you shouldn't but let them know where you are mentally and maybe they could help you out.

Swimmer, especially girls, fluctuate in times throughout their careers. It all has to do with certain ages and how much of some natural chemical (blanking on the specific name) is being released. It sucks but you need to just power through it.

Answer 4

I'm in a similar situation and I'm sure that other people on your team are too. I have a few suggestions, but none may be helpful in your situation, though they have all helped me considerably.

If your brother isn't too terribly young, maybe you and a friend on the team (or more then one) could trade off babysitting days, you babysitting both siblings one day, your friend babysitting them the next. If the kids are the same age and get along it gives you the added bonus of having something to entertain the kids with.

When I was very tired and gaining time this fall I went into the doctor and he said I wasn't getting enough protein so maybe you could try that as well, though it's certainly not guaranteed to do anything.

Finally, and I hesitate to add this, you could take a season off. I didn't participate in swimming this winter and instead was active in different activities and my times have been getting better since I've returned to swimming. Good luck, and I hope this helped.

Answer 5

Shower, eating dinner, bed is crucial. The only flexible thing I can see is swim practice and baby sitting. So tone down on the babysitting or the practice? Isn't your main goal to perform well in swim meets. If practicing so much is getting you unhappy and stressed out and resulting in your poor performance, wats the point of practicing so much?

Answer 6

Probably the most important thing you can do is to clarify your life goals -- in swimming and in other areas of your life. Sure, there will be some compromise, but your daily schedule should include activities that move you toward each of your  goals.  Your days will remain a blur unless you can remind yourself where you want to be headed and how each of your activities fits into the puzzle.

Start writing down a weekly schedule. This will help you prioritize your activities. Drop the activities that are not helping you (e.g. TV). Add a few activities that will make a positive difference. For example, if one of your goals is to be a good friend, figure out a way to invite a friend over for lunch twice a week.

Your schedule is not unlike that of a collegiate swimmer (just replace "baby-sitting" with "going to class"). Keep your eyes on your goals, and your days will be more purposeful and less hectic.