Summary
Maybe we aren’t all so different after all! In this episode of How To Twenty-Something Jenna Diamond provides the audience with how she transitioned from a full-time athlete to a full-time working adult. As she shares her experience, it becomes clear that we aren’t all that different after all and we all share similar struggles or ‘rites of passage’ as we move from college to the real world. She answers the thought provoking question of “who am I?” that she had to figure out after leaving the one sport that created who she was for the last 18 years.
Key Takeaways:
- Losing structure in your day leaves you with too much time to think, but filling it with thought provoking activities will help with this transition
- Eating healthier, working out, and finding out who you are outside of being an athlete will combat this identity loss
- Learning how to balance this new life where working out 5 hours a day was no longer feasible, leads to finding enjoyment in different types of movement
- What can you find in your life to substitute the time and energy that was previously directed towards your sport?
- How to use your college sport to get your first job after graduation
Why do I feel lost after leaving competitive sports?
Losing a sport you’ve done your whole life can feel like losing your identity, especially when it’s been a huge part of how you saw yourself since childhood. It’s common to feel like “who am I now?” once that structure and community disappear. Finding new hobbies, even ones unrelated to fitness, and giving yourself time to figure out what you actually enjoy (not just what you were trained to do) can help rebuild that sense of self.
Why does starting a 9-to-5 job feel so unsettling after college?
Going from a highly structured schedule to sitting behind a desk can feel disorienting, almost like being trapped, especially with no clear “end date” the way a season or a degree program has. It’s normal to start questioning whether this is really what you want long term. Give yourself permission to explore other paths if the first job or field doesn’t feel right.
How do I stay active and healthy without a training schedule?
Group fitness classes can be a good bridge, since they replicate the structure and camaraderie of a team without requiring hours of training. It also helps to be honest with yourself about what your body and schedule can realistically handle now. Try a few different formats (boxing, cycling, lifting) until you find what actually keeps you moving and clears your head.
Related Episodes
Ep. 13 You Are Right On Time
Ep. 147 Why you feel out of place in your twenties
Ep. 11 Finding What Fulfills You
Ep. 112 Why are your twenties so confusing?