The Holiday Playbook: How Student-Athletes Stay Ready and Festive

The holiday season arrives like a much-needed timeout in the hectic game of life. For student-athletes, it’s a time filled with family, festive traditions, and—let’s be honest—a lot of juggling between responsibilities and celebrations. While your friends might be binge-watching holiday movies or tackling a second plate of pie, you’re finding ways to keep your athletic edge sharp while soaking in the season’s joy. The question is: how do you pull it off without dropping the ball? Here’s the playbook for balancing it all.

Embracing the Holiday Vibes (But Keeping Your Eye on the Ball)

The holidays are all about togetherness, and as a student-athlete, this is your chance to reconnect with family and friends who you might not see often during the season. Whether it’s helping your younger siblings perfect their snowman-building technique or getting overly competitive in a family game of charades, these moments matter. They ground you, remind you why you work so hard, and re-energize you for what’s ahead.

That said, embracing the holiday vibes doesn’t mean taking a complete timeout from your goals. Your teammates aren’t slacking, and neither should you. Instead of seeing this as a time to choose between joy and discipline, think of it as an opportunity to balance both. Set aside time for training and recovery—but don’t forget to enjoy your mom’s famous cookies while you’re at it.

The Art of Creative Training

Gyms might be closed, and your usual training facilities may be thousands of miles away, but as an athlete, you know how to adapt. The holidays are perfect for mixing up your routine and finding creative ways to stay active. No weights? No problem. Turn household items into workout tools. (Who knew a gallon of milk could double as a dumbbell?) Snow-covered driveway? Lace up those sneakers and turn it into your personal resistance training course.

This is also a great time to try something new. Ever considered yoga to enhance your flexibility? Or a family game of touch football for cardio? These activities keep you moving while shaking up your usual training plan—and they’re a lot more fun than running laps in the freezing cold.

Food, Glorious Food

It wouldn’t be the holidays without indulgent meals and endless trays of cookies. And while you absolutely deserve to enjoy them, the key is to find balance. Remember, nutrition fuels your performance. So go ahead and enjoy that second helping of stuffing, but don’t forget to hydrate, eat your veggies, and sneak in some lean protein. Think of it as building a balanced holiday plate—a little bit of everything you love, with enough nutrients to keep your body fueled.

And let’s be real: Grandma’s pecan pie isn’t something you say no to. Just pair it with some post-dinner activity, like a quick walk or even leading the family in a TikTok dance challenge. It’s all about give and take.

Staying on Top of Academics

The holidays might feel like an off-season for your sport, but there’s no off-season when it comes to academics. Finals are either just behind you or waiting in January, and holiday breaks often bring their own set of deadlines. Use this time wisely. That doesn’t mean spending your entire holiday buried in books, but carve out a few focused hours each day to tackle assignments, catch up on reading, or review game film (for those in programs that emphasize the mental side of sports).

Here’s the hack: Treat academics like a workout. Schedule it, give it your full focus, and then reward yourself with downtime afterward. When you view studying as part of your training regimen, it becomes just another muscle to flex.

Gratitude: The Season’s MVP

If there’s one thing the holidays teach us, it’s gratitude. As a student-athlete, you have so much to be thankful for: supportive family, coaches who push you to be your best, teammates who have your back, and opportunities that others dream of. Use this season to reflect on those blessings and pay it forward.

Write a thank-you note to your coach. Send a quick text to a teammate who’s been having a tough time. Or volunteer at a local charity event with your family. Acts of gratitude don’t just brighten someone else’s day—they also remind you why you work so hard in the first place.

A New Year, A New Perspective

As the holidays wind down, it’s time to set your sights on the year ahead. Use this quieter time to think about what you want to accomplish in the next season—both athletically and personally. Whether it’s improving your free-throw percentage, nailing a new PR, or learning to balance all your commitments with a little more grace, now is the time to visualize success.

The holidays may bring unique challenges for student-athletes, but they also offer unique opportunities. This season isn’t just about maintaining discipline or enjoying yourself—it’s about learning how to integrate the two. When you find that balance, you’re not just surviving the holidays; you’re thriving through them. And that, in itself, is a win worth celebrating.