How to Make the Most of Your Off-Season

How to Make the Most of Your Off-Season

Whether you’re an athlete or not, you’re bound to live your life in seasons. Some seasons can be especially busy while others can be more relaxed. But the key to winning at this game of life is to make the most of any season you’re in.

As 2022 winds down, you may find yourself in what feels like an off-season. You’ve got time off from work or school, and the organizations you’re a part of are wrapping up activities for the year.

First, I want to encourage you to use this time to rest and recharge as much as possible. Spend time with loved ones and give yourself a break. My family and I just returned from the most incredible trip to South Africa and Rwanda.

But December may feel like an off-season not because it’s relaxing but because everything feels OFF! Having some direction for the end of the year may help you get back on track.

Here are four things to try that could help you make the most of your off-season.

Use your off-season to prepare for your next season of life.

For me, the off-season is about preparing for the next season. It’s about building muscle, developing quickness and stability, and building a base of endurance. All this work also inherently incorporates an element of mental toughness. My trainer is always switching things up and adding things to the routine to challenge my muscles and keep me stay my toes.

What are some things you can do now to prepare for the season ahead? Are there routines you can start or habits you can begin to adopt that will make you stronger for the new year? What about your mental toughness? Are there some personal development books you can read or podcasts you can listen to that will help get ready for your next season?

Take some time to reflect on the year.

During my off-season, a lot of work is done to reflect on the prior season and try to structure a training regimen aimed at improvement. The goal is to be quicker and stronger. During the season, of course, the focus shifts to maintenance and injury prevention. The goal is to get ready for the match and then recover for the next match. I'm playing so many matches and practicing so frequently that I must have a steady base of endurance and overall fitness. The off-season helps me to build that.

Use this month to reflect on your past year. What did you accomplish? What helped you achieve those accomplishments? Are there any goals you set out to achieve that you didn’t meet? If so, figure out why you didn’t and determine what you need to do differently next year.

Keep doing what works.

If you’re feeling off your game this time of year, it may be because you’re neglecting the things that keep you at peak performance.

Have you ditched your morning routine? Have you stopped working out regularly? Are you not making healthful food choices?

Like I said, yes, take a break. And it’s fine to enjoy a few holiday treats. But the habits that have helped you have a good year are the same practices that will help you end the year on a high note.

Even when my family and I were away on safari in South Africa, I stayed consistent and did a lot of smaller workouts on my own - body weight exercises, cardio, stretching, massages. This put me in a good position to train intensely when I got back to the gym in Boston.

I also do my best to keep my morning routine intact. I've found that having a consistent structure and routine helps me to focus on the things I need to do each day. So, I try to keep that up year-round.

What are some of your daily and weekly practices that you need to hold on to through the end of the year?

Set your goals for the season ahead.

I like to have things to look forward to - whether that's something small at the end of the day or a bigger milestone that’s weeks or months away. Setting some goals for 2023 could get you excited about the season to come.

What do you want to accomplish next year? What do you want the next season of your life to look like and feel like? Who do you want to be?

If setting specific goals stresses you out, try setting intentions instead. Sometimes if I set a goal and fail to achieve it, I beat myself up about it. But when I set intentions, I take things one day at a time and give myself grace along the way.

Some of the intentions I’ve set for myself in the past have included:

· Replacing negative self-talk

· Facing challenges with a calm mind

· Being more present in my relationships

· Accepting myself as enough

· Practicing gratitude

I hope this list inspires you to set some goals or intentions of your own.

The last month of the year can be tough, but let’s commit to making the most of it.