It seems every place we turn, there is more and more pressure to excel in life. Whether it be academically, socially or in sport, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high.

Early morning wake-ups to get to school and work on time, rush to pick up the kids and get home to have a quick dinner, do homework and then rush off to practice. Then we start the cycle all over again the next day, sometimes with multiple sports and for days on end. Perhaps this scenario is familiar?

With ice time becoming increasingly competitive, sports such as hockey are scheduling practices later at night than ever before. True, this can depend on the demographic area, as some major cities have multiple sports facilities to accommodate the growing need, but it isn’t uncommon now to see fifteen and sixteen year olds practicing until the late hour of 11:00 pm.

Sure, we all know that teenagers can be night owls and it seems more reasonable that a teen have the late practice as opposed to the seven year old down the street, but researchers are linking these late nights and fatigue with growing mental health issues. With the fast-paced and competitive mentality, there is often less time for proper sleep, nutrition and social engagement. This is all compounded with the fact that the brain is at one of the most crucial development stages in the teenage years.

This information isn’t new, we have known for years that we put immense pressure on our children to succeed in various areas and be well-rounded. After all, this will provide opportunity and prepare them for the “real world”. In actuality, what it is doing is setting them up to fail by teaching our children to exhaust themselves in an attempt to excel in everything. So what can we do? Surely we don’t want to tell young Billy that he can’t play competitive hockey if that is his passion and he has a natural ability?

What parents can do, is communicate openly with their kids and coaches. Let them know that while their activities are important, their overall well-being is also important.  Let your children know that if they are feeling overwhelmed or tired, a break won’t hamper their success but could actually help to achieve it. . Opting for one sport at a time, or registering when academic demands aren’t as high can also ward off fatigue. Overall, balance is the key to enjoying activity without long-term damage.