Go on a break? Take it from Simone Biles
Written by Demilade Ibironke on August 6, 2024
Taking a break is an essential aspect of maintaining our overall well-being and in some ways it contributes to personal development.
Remember, taking a break is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of self-awareness and self-care.
Let’s take for example USA gymnast Simone Biles.
In the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics, she won four medals consisting of 3 gold and one silver in team, all-around, vault and floor exercise respectively.
However the thing that strikes me most about Simone is how she pulled of an amazing comeback after taking a break from gymnastics three years ago.
At the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, where she was favored to win at least four of the six available gold medals, she withdrew from most of the competition due to “the twisties”, a temporary loss of air awareness while performing twisting elements.
In a news conference that followed the USA team event at Tokyo Olympics, here is what Biles said after withdrawing from the team finals;
“I say put mental health first. Because if you don’t, then you’re not going to enjoy your sport and you’re not going to succeed as much as you want to. So it’s OK sometimes to even sit out the big competitions to focus on yourself, because it shows how strong of a competitor and person that you really are — rather than just battle through it.”
She demonstrated admirable self-control by walking away from the competition to take care of her mental health. And ever since her return to competitive gymnastics in 2023, she has remained on the spotlight.
In today’s fast-paced world, we often find ourselves pushing ourselves to the limit, trying to accomplish as much as possible without stopping to rest. However, neglecting to take breaks can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and a range of negative effects on our physical and mental health.
There are many things we can learn from Simone Biles’ story but if you are to leave with only one, learn to take breaks when needed.
