10 Things I Do That Keep Me Busy & Focused During An Overseas Season
Playing overseas can be such a LONG and stressful season sometimes. Your mind and body are constantly tested and pushed to new limits, as you fight to win games and possibly win a title for your team. Being abroad can certainly add some tension, frustration, and more stress to your situation on the court due to not having a proper release, or your family/support system being so far away. With that said, over the years I have developed a bit of a system that has worked for me, and has proven to help others in similar situations.
I am going to list things that can be set in motion before you even arrive overseas, or once you get there and get acquainted with your team. I spent several seasons overseas playing basketball professionally, but not taking advantage of the extra time that I had. I would literally just eat, sleep, practice, play games, and not do much else besides stay home and watch shows and chat with people back in the states. I look back now and think of how much time I wasted because I could have explored a bit more or accomplished a lot of other things to push me further in life.
It's really easy to get stuck in a cycle of watching Netflix all day and waiting for the rest of the world to wake up when you have a 6-9 hr time difference between where you are currently playing, and from the home you are use to in the states. But that was earlier in my career, these days and for the past 3 seasons or so, I've gone about things much differently that way I can accomplish so much more! Below, is a list of things that I do that keep me focused, busy, and engaged with the world around me all season long. It also has stopped me from counting down the days until my return to states.
1. Learn some of the history and the culture of the country you are in or going to.
When you take the time to learn about the culture and history of the country and people around you, you tend to understand a little bit more about other people and other ways of living. Take the approach of trying to understand the world around you. This can help you adjust a bit more and faster throughout the season because you are teammates with these people, you work along side these people, you are a part of their organization, take some time to know their culture and watch how things develop. Watch how the communication levels change because you at least seem to have an interest in the things and people around you.
And when we talk about a team, COMMUNICATION is everything! I love learning about new cultures, new people, and other ways of going about life. Take it all in. Every season makes me even more grateful for the opportunities I've been given and the experiences I've had throughout my lifetime.
2. Set 5 goals you hope to accomplish on the court and for the season!
These are YOUR goals and what push YOU to be a better athlete. Your goals can really be anything, these are made to help you excel and have you work hard to reach them. If you are a shooting guard in your 4th season abroad, maybe you compare your statistics over the last few seasons and you want to raise your shooting percentage from 48% from 3pt range to 55%. That is something you can set for yourself and work towards crushing that goal by the end of the season. Setting a goal like this could make you work harder on your footwork, make you constantly have your hands ready to shoot coming off screens, and may motivate you to stay an extra 15-20 minutes after hard practices to get up extra shots.
For a post player, you could set a goal of trying to average a double-double for the entire season. This goal that you have in mind should make you crash the boards harder and faster, make you work on your agility and explosiveness in the weight room that way you can get more rebounds and go right back up for a basket. It may make you work on certain post moves to get around your defender and finish better around the hoop. Remember, these goals are made by you, to inspire you, in order for you to achieve the things you set out to from the beginning of the season.
3. Bring several books to read.
Knowledge is power!! I recommend bringing at least 3 books that are paperback. Paperback works best in situations where you are trying to isolate your focus and concentrate. Having a physical book in your hands, you can turn off all your electronics and disconnect from most distractions to concentrate on the material, or just to have a different vibe. I love to take my books and sit down and have a coffee while you read.
Also, the type of books you bring along to read can really be beneficial, but it’s all up to you and your interests. I mix it up a bit during the season but for the most part, all of my books are inspirational or geared towards business. I read for entertainment purposes, but mainly for the knowledge.
These books inspire me to live out my wildest dreams and to push myself to accomplish more. So before you decide on what books to bring, narrow down your interests and go from there. If you are someone who likes to read, by all means bring as many books as you want, just remember those luggage fees are NO JOKE!! And if you have an IPad or a Kindle you can surely load up on books much easier. I bring several books and I also use my IPad. If you are aware of the type of environment you will be in before heading overseas, you can plan ahead and possibly find a library or bookstore that has several English books that you can rent out.
4. Try learning the language!
No one expects you to fully be fluent during the season, however, I’m sure the people around you would love it if you were. There are several ways you can go about learning a new language, especially while you are in that country.
- You could ask some teammates to teach you, or just start repeating after them and asking what certain words mean. Trust me, instinctively they will respond and if you are really trying to learn you will take it all in. This is an easy way to learn much of the basic sentences and words that you’ll need. Words like, hello, good bye, thank you, pass, screen, shoot, and many others.
- You could pay for a tutor or even a class to attend to learn the language. Usually if you were to ask anyone that is a part of your team’s organization to look into setting this up for you, they would oblige, or you could just go online and look up things in your area.
- Rosetta Stone. If you really want to dive into things and have a program that is always with you (online & on your computer) this is a way to go. There is a cost but this could be a great investment, especially if you have plans on playing in this country for several seasons.
- A small language book. Before you head overseas, I suggest looking into one. Especially if you have never been abroad before and have some nervous energy about going overseas. You can find most languages translated to English in books at stores like Barnes & Noble, or even order one online through Amazon.
5. Make it a point to go explore and discover new places in your area 1-3 times a month.
Break out of your shell a little bit. You can do this by yourself or with some of your teammates. Being stuck in your routine of eating,
sleeping, practicing, and playing in games can get quite
tedious, so this would be a way to mix it up a bit. By doing this, you could
end up discovering a place or new people you would like to add into your
weekly schedule that makes your experience within this season more
enjoyable.
I encourage everyone to just explore so you get to know another culture
outside of what you are used to back home. Not everyone gets the
opportunity to go to another country, let alone be there for months on end.
You have been given a unique opportunity through all of your hard
work and dedication, make the most out of it and enjoy everything that
comes with it!
Here are some suggestions:
- Find a restaurant and try new food.
- If you have a car, just drive for 20-30 minutes from time to time and see the sights and area that surrounds you.
- Find a park and go for a walk.
- Locate the center of your town/city. That’s usually where a lot of stores and vendors can be located. During the winter holidays it is very popular and festive.
- Go bowling.
- Visit a museum.
- Find out what locals like to do for fun and join them.
6. Reach out to the other Americans in your league and country.
Embrace the community you are a part of. There are so many others that are experiencing some of the same things you are. They could be in bigger or smaller cities, but they could also have played for the same team you are currently on. Get to know some of them, form a relationship and network a bit. During a weekend when you have off, you can travel and meet up. Or even after you play each other, if you’ve developed a relationship before hand you can make plans to hang out after a game. It’s great to get to know the other Americans in your country and league because you get to share your experiences together and what you are going through. You can also teach each other some things that you have learned along the way. But it's a chance to let loose and relax because you are around some people that are going through the exact same thing!
7. Write about your week, keep a journal.
This is one of my favorite stress relievers but I recommend this for everyone. A season abroad can seem quite long and also full of ups and downs. There will be plenty of things you might want to forget or not write about (tough losses, regular practices), but also some memories you want to cherish and remember forever (road trips, big wins, off day shenanigans). It’s something you can look back on later down the line and cherish those memories you have written down. I also find it helpful, because you are able to get things out and off your chest, that some people may not be able to relate to during your season.
8. Set 5 goals to complete off the court during the course of the season.
Once again, these goals can be ANYTHING! This is all for you and the things you hope to achieve, not only during the course of the season, but in your life overall. Whether these goals are physical, financial, educational, or even spiritual, use the extra time you may fine yourself having during the season and strive to be a better you!
Some examples of goals you can focus on off of the court would be;
1.) Save 20% of every payment for the season.
2.) Gain 5lbs of muscle.
3.) Pay off a credit card.
4.) Earn another degree
5.) Research and make an investment
*And once I’ve set all of these goals, I map out how I will go about accomplishing them.
9. Make 7, 14, and 30 day challenges.
I get a lot of joy out of doing this, for me this is FUNNNN! Making challenges for myself throughout the season allows me to switch things up regularly and definitely helps me stay focused on just bettering myself over the course of the next 7-8 months. These challenges help pull all of the other things that I’ve listed together.
If you have some physical goals that you have set for the season, make a challenge that pushes you towards accomplishing that goal a bit faster, or to at least keep you on track. Here’s an example:
7 Day Challenge
3 sets of 30 crunches
3 sets of 20 push ups
2 1min planks
No Meat
No Sugar
Drink ONLY Water
2 Mile run on treadmill
This is a simple challenge that you can put together, revise it however you want. Ask someone to hold you accountable, maybe you even post it on your social media. You add a challenge into your regular routine, do the things on the list daily, and on top of whatever is required from you because you are within season and take notice of your changes.
10. Turn an off day into a mini vacation!
There are times when your season can be unpredictable and there seems to be no end in sight. However, when you get the opportunity to have a free day, 24 hours of NO PRACTICE, and no other obligations, I highly suggest taking advantage of it and just being by yourself. If you have a roommate and do not live alone, finding a good hotel can benefit you the most. It doesn’t mean you dislike your roommate or anything along those lines, you just want to distance yourself and getaway mentally for 24 hours. My suggestion is to check into a hotel and have a spa day.
When I have done this throughout the season, it has allowed me to feel renewed and rejuvenated to some degree. It gets me away from everyone, changes my environment, and it’s a form of self-care that is needed. I do this anywhere from 3-6 times a season and it's pretty simple to plan. I look up hotels within about 30 min of my location, maybe even an hour if I have to branch out a little more, and I just find something that suits me. Hotels.com is a site I use regularly to find the best prices, plus I am a part of their rewards program! Once I've nailed down the hotel I want to stay at, if that hotel does not already have a spa attached to it I look for something nearby.
I hope that by sharing with you some of the things that get me through during my seasons abroad, I've opened your eyes to a few things that may be able to help you during your season as well.