Hey Lead Fam! Lead Intern Avery here, writing to you from the Mile High City after the 2021 Lead Summit. During Lead, we are all given A LOT of amazing information from awe-inspiring women. It’s easy to soak it all up in the moment, but the real challenge comes now that we’re back to our everyday lives with hours of school, swimming, and homework ahead. It’s time to put into practice the tips we learned and to become the very best versions of ourselves. But don’t worry, we’ll do it together! Over the next few weeks, we’ll go through our top takeaways from Lead 2021. There’s so many great tips, pick a few of your favs and try them out in your routine this week! Trust us, they help ;)

• Being afraid is okay

  • In the wise words of Coach Christen Shefchunas: “We need let go of the idea that we need to be fearless to be confident.” Confidence is not being fearless; confidence is having the courage to own your fears and to face them. Remind yourself: I am afraid and it is OK. Even though you're nervous, you made the choice to show up and work hard. You deserve success.

• Prioritize you

  • “CHOOSE to prioritize yourself and take charge of your mental health. YOU have the ability to change the world, and this is where you start.” We often tend to put the needs of others before our own, thinking that it’s ok because we’re helping others. While our hearts are in the right place, we aren’t doing anyone any good if we’re struggling. By putting ourselves first and prioritizing our emotional health, we can be better able to help those around us thrive too.

• Start a journal

  • Yep, we’ve all heard this one before. But…have any of us ever really given it a shot? The best part about journaling is that there’s no “wrong” way to do it. Use it as an opportunity to reflect, wonder, set goals, or to just talk about your day. Here’s a few of our favorite ways to start:

    1. What did I do for my emotional health today?

    2. 3 things I’m grateful for today are… (pro tip: Research shows that athletes that practice gratitude actually perform better)

    3. How am I feeling?

• Rest days are OKAY

  • Rest days are not just okay, in fact, they’re necessary. Take this as your friendly reminder to take some time for you. Catch up on sleep, eat good food, and set the reset button. Whether you realize it or not, you are working hard all the time. No matter what things are going on in your life, you deserve to treat yo' self!

• Ask For Help

  • Asking for help is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s one of the bravest things you can do. We all need a little pick-me-up sometimes so turn to a friend, a coach, or a parent and let them know what you need to succeed.

• Be Selfish

  • Our very own Natalie Hinds reminded us that “Selfish is not a bad word. Being respectfully selfish is something we can all benefit from and something we all need to practice. Prioritize you.” If Natalie said it, it must be true, right?

• Be Present

  • It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the day to day grind, but we need to remember to keep our head where our feet are. Take a moment to be grateful for where you are and how far you’ve come. Stay tuned for some inspiration from one of our favorite Paralympian on how to do this.

Registration for the 2022 Lead Swimming Summit opens on November 15.

Lead Insiders’ Early Bird Access is open NOW!