The Final Quarter

It’s the final quarter. You’re down a few points. You’re exhausted, you feel you’ve run all your plays, the ref’s made some questionable decisions and as much effort as you’ve put in, you’re still not there yet. What do you do?

First up, I’ll be honest. That’s about the extent of my sportsball knowledge, so I can’t say what they should do. I can say that it’s October, there are three months left of 2021 and it’s our final quarter of the year. We’re usually a bit run down by now, we’re usually hanging out for the nicer weather and we’re usually looking forward to all the good things Summer brings.

This year’s a bit different, this year the goalposts have shifted a little and the rules are being made up as they go along. But the game can still be enjoyed by all, we can all get over the line with our heads held high, be appreciative of the opportunities we’ve had and smile at what we’ve achieved.

Easier said than done? Yep, it is. But here are some things to put into focus to get there.

Burnout – if you followed August’s blog, you’ll remember our 4 tips to avoid Burnout.

1. Exercise more. Making the time to exercise will help with setting a routine and getting over the final hurdles.
2. Focus on a good night’s sleep. If you aren’t sleeping well, you only fall further behind. Chat to a health professional about getting a better night’s sleep.
3. Say no. Seriously. The less you ‘add’ to your calendar the more you have time to do the things you want to! You really don’t need to go to your neighbour’s, cousin’s, dogwalker’s Christmas party that’s on the same day as your brother’s AND your in-laws. (While you’re at it, skip the in-laws as well!)
4. Get adjusted. We talk about all this stuff because it’s really important!

Control what you can – how to manage when you can’t manage every detail.
The end of the year always presents challenges that are outside of our control. 3 Christmas parties on the same day, getting stuck buying for the person who is impossible to buy for and being asked to make a dish for Christmas dinner when you don’t have the time because you’re busy playing with your new toys!!

Well, control what you can. Got 3 Christmas parties to go to on the same day? Go to one this year and go to the other next. If you get banned from Christmas for missing one party… it’s probably not the party you want to be at anyway. Tip, try asking that NEXT year’s party be moved off the main day.
Don’t know what to buy someone? You can just ask Google! Typing “what do I buy for a (10yo boy)” works well. Also, gift cards and cash are legitimate options if you are truly stuck.
And can’t pry yourself away from your toys to prep food? Easy – order in! Places like Country Roast + Major Roasts do awesome meal options. No getting stuck stirring gravy that won’t thicken for 20 minutes. Winner!

Gratitude – You made it to the final quarter. Well freaking done. It’s been a particularly long, hard slog this year. But we did it. All of us. Be proud, be thankful. Learn from the year and it will be at least something good that has come from this year!

And that’s it. You’ve made it to the final quarter. You’re still exhausted, you’ve rolled with all the ref’s decisions, you’ve put in a helluva lot of effort, but you’ve realised there are still a few plays left. Go score your sportsball team a point!