Part of my experience in Paris—and at other championships and sporting events in the past (and most likely in the future)—was dealing with the sometimes challenging feeling of not being needed. It’s a tough one to navigate, but it’s a reality many of us face. After reflecting on this with other experienced sport psychologists and during my own supervision, I realized I’m not alone. Almost everyone who works with athletes at competitions has felt a bit useless at times. While there are many aspects to this, I won’t dive too deeply into them here (I’ll share more during my presentation at ​VASPS2024​).

What I really want to emphasize is that it’s okay—and even necessary—to take care of ourselves during these events. Sometimes we’re working long hours and pushing ourselves to the limit. Other times, when athletes are busy with their routines—training, commuting, eating, resting, physiotherapy—we find ourselves with little to do. It’s easy to fall into the trap of overthinking: dwelling on things that didn’t go as planned, or on tasks we didn’t complete.

I remember Prof. Alessandro Quartiroli’s talk on professional quality of life and self-care at VASPS2020. His insights have stayed with me ever since. While I won’t go through all of his points, I want to highlight two that I believe are crucial:

First, it can be tough for some practitioners to prioritize self-care, especially when they’re focused on building their careers and securing clients.

Many of us strive to be available to athletes and coaches around the clock during competitions, always ready to support them whenever they need us. While this is a commendable goal, it can sometimes take a toll on our own well-being. That’s why it’s so important to remember that we also have a responsibility to take care of ourselves. Setting clear “business hours” even during competitions—like from 8 am to 12 am—can help establish healthy boundaries. It’s also crucial to build in regular breaks throughout the week to recharge our batteries. This way, we can continue to provide the best possible support without burning out ourselves.

Second, be intentional and deliberate about your self-care.

As Ale suggested during his talk, we shouldn’t wait until our bodies and minds demand it. Instead, we should make self-care a habit, finding practices that suit our personalities. One of my favorites—aside from regular meditation—is what I call the 3×3 exercise. It’s simple: I write down three things that went well (today or last week), three things I want to improve (tomorrow or next week), and three things I’m grateful for (today or last week). As I reflect on these questions, I feel my focus shift and my heartbeat slow down.

By engaging in self-care, we not only support our own well-being but also model this practice for our peers and clients. It’s a powerful way to lead by example, which should never be underestimated.

So, I encourage you to take a moment for yourself and answer these three questions:

What went well today?

What do you want to do better tomorrow?

What are you grateful for today?

And if you see a colleague this week, check in with them—ask if they’ve been taking care of themselves lately. We are powerful alone, but we are even better together!

Take care!