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Hi everyone, my name is Brayden Martin, and my self-care practice is playing volleyball.

Volleyball is more fast paced, so when I’m playing, it takes pretty much all of my attention and I really enjoy that. While I’m playing I’m usually focused on where the ball is going, what my teammates are doing, and what I need to do next and because of that, it tends to give me a break from whatever else I might be thinking or stressing about. Essentially for me volleyball serves as my distraction, all the time that I’m on the court, I can just focus on playing hard and enjoying the game.

I also think the team aspect is a really important part of why volleyball works as self-care for me. Instead of working toward something completely by myself, I’m surrounded by people who are all trying to accomplish the same thing and for me that just feels bigger or more comfortable in a way. Volleyball also needs a lot of communication so when I’m constantly yelling, encouraging my teammates and celebrating with all of each other it makes it really easy to feel connected to everyone around me.

Back in high school, volleyball became more than just a sport for me. A lot of the people I became closest with were people I originally met through volleyball. Even on days when I was stressed from school or had other things going on, going to practice gave me something to look forward to. Once we started playing, I usually stopped thinking about whatever had been bothering me and just enjoyed competing and being around my teammates.

I think another reason it helps me is that volleyball gives me a really clear reset. Even if I go into a practice or a game in a bad mood, I usually leave feeling better because I’ve been active, spent time around other people, and had something productive to focus on.

That’s why volleyball is still something I really value. It helps me stay active, gives me a mental break, and lets me connect with other people at the same time.

So if you’re ever feeling stressed or stuck in your own head, I’d definitely recommend finding some kind of sport or team activity that can give you that same escape. Thank you