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| Lauren Hokaj (center), between junior Courtney Poirier (left) and senior Sara Madison |
When Lauren Hokaj was a freshman in 2012, I gave her my copy of The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama's most famous book. She liked it so much that she never gave it back.
One of the world's best-known spiritual figures, the Dalai Lama writes and speaks on issues of human rights and personal happiness. He's also a master of routine, rising each morning at 3 a.m. and in bed by 7 p.m. Everything, including four hours of meditation, is scheduled for the same time each day.
Whether you wake up at 3 a.m. or noon, developing a routine is a precursor to a satisfying athletic career. Below, Hokaj shares her ten most important routines, both mental and physical, for preseason in August:
1. Get a good nights sleep
I’m sure the night before the first challenge, you’re probably going to be tossing and turning in your bed picturing yourself doing the challenges and starting to get really nervous, but try your best to get a full 8 hours of sleep that night. Don’t be up watching Netflix the whole night… you’ll have plenty of time when school starts to binge watch.
2. Don’t over do it at Cranston.
There’s no better feeling than walking into Cranston (Dining Hall) after a long session and seeing the unlimited food, but don’t forget that what you put into your body during preseason will affect your performance. So as you’re walking out, think twice about grabbing that cookie. When you’re running the 18 and 18, you’ll wish you would’ve thought twice about eating it.
3. Show up 10-15 minutes prior to the actual time you’re supposed to be somewhere.
If coach or Ryan say to be at breakfast at 8:00, be there at 7:45. When coach or Ryan say to be in the gym at 9, that doesn’t mean you stroll in at 9:00 on the dot still tying your shoes and lacing up your active ankles. Give yourself some time to make sure you’re prepared and ready. REMEMBER: Being on time is being late!!!
4. Take advantage of going to the trainers
If your body is hurting, go to the trainer. Don’t think “Oh, I can just tough it out,” because chances are you’re going to end up hurting yourself more. The trainers are there for a reason. Take advantage of it! Take ice baths, heat, go down there to get stretched out… you’ll be glad you did the next day or for the next session.
5. Keep your locker clean
Keep your locker clean! Keep your things organized so you know where they are before practice or before you leave for a tournament. It makes your life a lot easier knowing you have all the things you need and know exactly where they are. Set a goal to keep your locker cleaner than Paulina’s (Rein) always was! Love ya P! =)
6. The mile is not a race
Everyone always stresses about the mile…My advice: don’t try to run faster or try to run up to people who are way ahead of you. Run your own race! Pace yourself to what works best for you. Set mini goals like making it to the next light post in 10 seconds, or do a full sprint for 10 seconds, take a five second jog then another 10 seconds and time yourself on your phone. Find something that works for you! The goal is to pass the finish line in 7:25… don’t worry about how other people are doing it, worry about how you’re going to do it!
7. Don’t put the thought in your head that you can’t do a challenge
Once you think that thought, you’ve already failed. The challenges aren’t meant to be easy, they’re meant to push you to your limits. Have the mindset that you can do it and you will! You may not get a challenge the first time, but don’t give up just yet because you’ll have a second chance to make up for it!
8. It’s okay if you don’t get a challenge
It’s okay if you don’t get a challenge, but it’s not okay to just accept that you can’t do it and that someone else will just do it for you. After you do each challenge, ask yourself: “Am I trying my best? Did I give it my all? Did I push myself till I absolutely had no more in me?” If you answer all those questions with a yes, be proud of yourself. These challenges are difficult. Maybe the first time you run the mile you get it in 7:45, but on your second try you get it in 7:35… you may not have reached it in 7:25, but you still did your absolute best and did better than the first time, and that’s still something to be proud of. The goal is to get better.
9. Give positive feedback to your teammates constantly
I’ll never forget during the 18 and 18, I was getting extremely frustrated because I couldn’t do it and Sav (senior Saverina Chicka) came up to me in the locker room and told me that just because I didn’t get the challenge, doesn’t define who I am as a volleyball player. I needed to hear that because the only thought going through my head at that point was “I suck.” I’ll never forget the positive text messages I would get from Kelly (Edinger) the morning before a challenge telling me that “I can do all things!” Those little comments brought my confidence back when I started running low on it. Do your best to encourage your teammates and let them know that they can do it and you believe in them. Sometimes we all just need that little reminder...
10. Don’t wish it to be over
I know everyone looks forward to the day that preseason is over, and I don’t blame you! But instead of dreading it the whole time and wishing you didn’t have to do it, remember that one day your volleyball career is going to be over and you won’t have this opportunity again. Especially you, seniors. Paulina, Jess (DiChristopher), Kelly, all the alumni and I wish we could be back in Dods gym during preseason again. Take advantage of this time because right now you may not realize how special it is until you’re playing in your last match in Dods. Love and appreciate every moment. As much as you think preseason is hard and difficult at times, little do you know it’s going to be one of the best memories you’ll have for the rest of your life. ENJOY IT.
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Lauren Hokaj writes her reflections on teaching and living on her blog, Miss H