Balancing the pressures of everyday life with the intense demands of being a professional athlete is no small feat. In this blog, Phia Gladieux dives into the ways she navigates the challenges of training, competing, and managing her personal life while staying grounded.
“It is extremely difficult balancing everything, but that goes for anything you dedicate your life to, not necessarily just sports. I think I realized that as I got older, and it made it way easier to transition being a professional athlete. I tried not to feel sorry for myself and remind myself that thousands of girls would kill to be in the position I am in, and it makes me beyond grateful that I was given this opportunity. The thing that has helped me with balancing my everyday life and field hockey is the people I surround myself with. I have extremely supportive friends, family, and boyfriend who are extremely understanding of what my career looks like right now, they have been nothing but supportive, and they are always there when I need them to be. It gets tough, but I am reminded that at this age, everyone is busy, not just me, and that brings me a lot of peace! My favorite way to unwind and recharge is by reading, being outside, and talking/FaceTiming my friends and family. Doing these things is extremely refreshing and reminds me of how lucky I am to be where I am at today.”
