Sparkle & Sports Blogs: Katie Hewitt and Olivia Coiro

Sparkle & Sports Blogs: Katie Hewitt and Olivia Coiro

Here are two blog posts from SparklesandSports.com website creators Katie Hewitt (University of Michigan) and Olivia Coiro (University of North Carolina Greensboro). Hewitt's piece is "Growth Tip: Asking for Feeback" while Coiro writes about the importance of down time in "You Won't Sleep Until You're Dead."

See their CoSIDA.com feature story - and a discussion of why they created this website - here.

Growth Tip: Asking for Feedback
posted 7.15.2016 - by Katie Gwinn Hewitt

In a world where asking if you're doing things correctly can sound like you're fishing for praise, asking for feedback can be tough. However, feedback - both positive and negative - is essential for professional growth and both men and women need it on a regular basis.

For some, asking for feedback is part of a normal routine; for others, it is a difficult task that requires a lot of preparation. If you're struggling with asking for feedback, here are some tips to make the process a bit easier.

Ask questions.
If you're unsure what a project should look like at its final stage, ask specific questions and explain that you want to ensure you're doing things correctly. People will appreciate your efforts to get it right the first time, regardless of whatever "it" is. In the same breath, know your limits and know your job responsibilities. If you don't know HOW to do something along the way (like create a gif in Photoshop, perform a function in excel, or something technical), there are many resources available for you to look it up! One of the most under-appreciated factors of being a millennial is that we are rarely perceived as go-getters.

Make feedback a part of your regular routine.
People who want to progress quickly are often dedicated to professional growth, and feedback is a large part of that process. I think we throw around the term "expert" far too often. As the world changes, so too does our knowledge. We MUST continually grow or we'll become outdated; therefore, make it a priority to ask for feedback on a routine basis - whether this is once per month, quarterly, or twice per year. Speak to your supervisor about your intentions and ask his or her thoughts on an appropriate schedule. Chances are, they will appreciate your dedication to personal and professional growth and make it a priority just like you have.

Document your feedback as well as your attempts to improve.
What is the point of asking for feedback if you're not going to do anything with it? It's important to track your professional growth as well as your personal growth, and if you are really dedicated to improving, there is no doubt that you'll be surprised at how far you've come. When you are meeting with your supervisor or whoever you've requested feedback from, take notes. Review those notes following your meeting and put a plan into action, then review those notes and that plan every so often to ensure that you're on track. Having this catalogue can also help you in the future if you're struggling to implement feedback.

Remember that no one is perfect, ever.
There will always be room for improvement, even when you've reached the final stage in your career. By design, no one is perfect and there will always be areas where we can improve as individuals and as teams. Keep this in mind as you move forward in both your professional and personal spheres. Feedback and continual improvement is important, but our weaknesses also allow for others to make us strong.



You Won't Sleep Until You're Dead
posted 10.14.2016 by Olivia Coiro

Ever lay in bed at night staring at the ceiling as a million things about work run through your head? I'm like that too. A career in sports goes hand-in-hand with crazy hours and little sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that younger adults (18-25) should get 7-9 hours of sleep a night. As a 25-year-old female (26 this week, yikes!), I find it difficult to get the necessary hours of sleep. As I am sure many of you can relate.

Between my puppy waking up and crying at 5:00 a.m. every morning for a walk to returning from road trips well after midnight, it is extremely hard to find balance. I often joke with people that my brain doesn't function for work until after 10:00 a.m. I usually show up to work on a non-game day around 9:30 a.m. and work until 5:15 p.m. I get home, take my dog for a walk/run and then make dinner. Most nights I decline invites from friends because all I want to do is relax.

Every other month I have to wean myself off of coffee because I build up such a tolerance that my high caffeine intake doesn't affect me.

Here's a few tips I have that help me stay well rested, even if it doesn't involve physical sleep.

1. Dedicate an hour a day to reading.

Reading helps me relax. It doesn't matter if I am reading physical book, an iPad or a Kindle. Reading stimulates your brain and can aid in continual brain development. Depending on what you choose you read it can take your mind off of things, further develop your career or wander off to a mystery land.

2. Drink a cup of tea.

Tea is a soothing relaxing drink. Many companies make a "sleep" specific tea, which promotes restful sleep and is obviously caffeine free. Two of my favorites are "Sleeytime" by Celestial and "Bedtime Story" by Lipton.

3. Light a candle.

I don't know why but a candle flame is one of the most soothing things for me. I even keep a small candle at my desk for when I am feeling stressed although its totally against the fire code, whoops!

4. Take a bath.

Honestly what is better than a warm bath before bed? Although I haven't taken many baths lately, it is typically a Sunday tradition for me. It's my way of unwinding from the weekend and relaxing before another hectic week of work!

5. Exercise.

If you exercise on a daily basis it will help you sleep better at night. Exercise in the early morning to jump-start your day or after work to relieve some stress. Just make sure you aren't working out too close to bedtime because your adrenaline will prohibit you from falling asleep for a few hours.

6. Get some sleep!

Yes. Set a reminder on your phone an hour before you wish to get to bed. Shower at night instead of the morning. Once you get in bed, put your phone down and switch it to Do Not Disturb. If you stay up scrolling on social media you will have more trouble falling asleep. Unless you absolutely need to fall asleep with TV on, turn it off! Condition your body to go to sleep when you lay in bed. Lastly, putting in ear plugs can help eliminate outside noise and hearing the rhythm of your own breathing can help relax you and fall asleep faster.


A last tidbit that I just learned as I'm writing this post, thanks Jenny Moss. Did you know apple in the morning or afternoon is more effective at giving you a burst of energy than a cup of coffee. Caffeine late in the day can affect your sleep as well. Plus, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Right?