A Volleyball Player's Story
Let me tell you a story that really happened.
A young woman who played volleyball for several years at a good level here in the Czech Republic had to quit sports because of an illness.
And the first thing she had to face was that she suddenly had way too much free time.
Free Time That Exhausts You
Because she did not realize how much time volleyball had taken up, she thought: "Alright, now I will make up for everything."
She started going to parties, hanging out with friends, going to events.
She was always somewhere. Always doing something. As if she wanted to catch up on all the experiences she missed during her career.
But that pace exhausted her incredibly fast.
The problem was not a lack of time.
The problem was the absence of structure.
Loss of Routine
And with that came the second thing - food, routine.
Because when you are an athlete, you have a system. You know what you eat and why. You watch it so it moves you forward.
But once that routine disappears, you eat anything, anytime.
And that is exactly what happened to her.
Her body changed. No energy. Constant fatigue.
Even though she had plenty of time, she felt completely empty.
The Realization
After a few months, she realized she had not actually moved forward at all.
That nothing had changed - maybe it had gotten worse.
What This Means
Many athletes think that when they quit, all their problems will be solved.
But in reality, they are only entering a new world - and it is often even harder.
Sports are not just about results.
They are not just about how much you win or how far you advance.
The most valuable thing sports give you is routine and balance.
And when that routine disappears, the balance disappears too.
And getting it back - that is not simple at all.
The Mental Edge: 25 Mental Techniques for Athletes
The end of sports is tough mentally too. Learn techniques that will help you handle the change.
Learn more →What to Do About It
If you are an athlete currently training and you think the end of your career will simplify everything:
You are wrong.
The end of sports is not the solution to problems. It is the beginning of new ones.
That is why it is important to build structure and habits right now. During your career.
Not when you are done.
Through sports you have discipline, character, control over your life.
Do not lose it.
If you are figuring out what to do next, read What to Do After Sports? A Guide for Athletes. And if you want to know what jobs athletes actually do, check out 5 Most Common Paths Athletes Take.
Leaving sport? Take a professional CV with you.
Answer a few questions about your sport and get a professional CV in 2 minutes. From €6.99.
Create CV for €6.99 →Tip: If you want to learn how to train your mind and handle pressure, check out the e-book The Mental Edge: 25 Mental Techniques for Athletes.