5 Habits Soccer Pros Do That You Should Too
Each professional female soccer player, from Olympic gold medalist Julia Grosso to U.S. Soccer legend Megan Rapinoe, has their own daily routine that keeps them both grounded and at the top of their game. Though most of their day is spent at the facility training and practicing with their teams, outside of perfecting their craft, soccer pros are just like us; they also have daily routines that help keep them grounded and going. And even though you and I are not Olympic gold medalists or World Cup champions, we could learn a thing or two from how these professionals get through their day. Without further ado, here are the five habits that soccer pros do that you should too.
Wear SPF!
Yes, even pro players are taking care of their skin! Ashley Lawrence, a Canadian professional full-back for the Women’s Super League club Chelsea and the Canada women’s national team, starts and ends her day protecting her skin. Lawrence mentions that since she is training outside almost daily, beginning and ending her day with skincare is an incredibly important part of her daily routine.
Lawrence told Rose Inc., “Usually I’ll use a cleanser, a moisturizer, and then an SPF… I’m really big on protecting my skin.” If busy top professional athlete Ashley Lawrence can take a few moments out of her day to slow down and focus on herself and her skin, you can too!
Take a Bath
Because being a professional soccer player is an incredibly demanding job, OL Reign and USWNT star Megan Rapinoe is a big stan for regular baths. Rapinoe mentions that part of her routine for being mindful of her well-being is regular baths. Rapinoe mentions that there is nothing like a good Epsom salt bath and a good stretch to keep her rested, relaxed, and game-day-ready. She even told the New York Times, “I do that every day before bed and relax. And then I do a little stretching.”
Get Your Daily Carbs In
Yes, you read that right! Professional soccer players are eating carbs every day to stay healthy and in shape. While getting your daily dose of greens is essential, Olympic gold medalist Julia Grosso reminds everyone that consuming carbs is important too.
Grosso mentions in a day in the life video with Juventus TV that she regularly enjoys a good plate of pasta as part of her routine to keep herself happy and healthy. Grosso told Juventus TV while she “eats salad every day,” she enjoys her pasta with “salt and black pepper.”
Meditate
Many professional athletes, such as former USWNT player Carli Lloyd, rave about the benefits of regular meditation. Lloyd mentioned that meditating helped her score one of the winning goals during the 2012 Olympic Games. She is an advocate for the benefits of visualizing during her daily meditations. She mentions that meditation helps her stay focused and centered, especially during game day.
Lloyd told the Seattle Times, “Over the years and definitely over the last four years, I’ve taken that visualization part to another level…I’ve basically visualized so many different things on the field, making these big plays, scoring goals.” If Carli Lloyd can take a few moments out of her day to help her conquer her goals, you can, too!
Do What You Love At Least Once A Day
While many professional soccer players are in it for the love of the game, pro players like American soccer player Alex Morgan emphasize the importance of downtime. Even as a busy athlete, Morgan treasures the time that she has to slow down and do what she loves. Morgan has mentioned that the moments of downtime when she is able to do what she loves, such as spending time with her family, are not only invaluable for her as a person but also crucial for her success as an athlete.
Featured image via Getty Images
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