The Tommy Blake Eight

TCU player Tommy Blake can’t handle the stress in his life. Now, usually I bust on dumbasses who get overwhelmed too easily with school activities, but I think Blake is making the smartest move possible here. Instead of potentially screwing over his team by playing a shitty game, he’s sitting this one out…again. Blake won’t play tomorrow at Wyoming, which is the second straight game he’s missed.

It’s really easy to yell “Get your shit together!” at players, but at the end of the day, college football isn’t the most important aspect of life for the vast majority of these kids. Health and academia have to come first. Going into this season, Blake was one of the top NFL draft hopefuls. Has that changed? Maybe. It depends if he comes back next week. But hey, if you’re an NFL coach, wouldn’t you rather draft a good ballplayer that has his personal life worked out already? It’s easy to crack under pressure, and I think Blake has successful danced around that.

So BCS Frenzy gives its best to Tommy Blake. Eat it up kid, because I’m not usually so nice.

And, as an added bonus (because dealing with stress is very important), here are my top eight tips for leading a stress-free life – I’m calling these tips “The Tommy Blake Eight”:

1. Accept help and learn to delegate. Stress often piles up when we have too much to do in too little time, so figure out which tasks you can give to others to handle. Make a grocery list and have your spouse go shopping. Pay the kids $5 to wash the car. You get the picture.
2. Treat yourself to a stress-free day at least once a week. I like to pick Saturday, and I spend the entire day vegged out in front of the TV watching Penn State. You can pick any day of the week, but make sure you stick to the rule that you won’t do any work or household chores that day.
3. Go on a min-vacation once every other month. You don’t have to take off a week to go to the beach, but skip out early on Friday and visit family for the weekend, go skiing, hire a babysitter and spend the weekend with your spouse, head to the beach, or…anything. Just take a long weekend to forget about your obligations and focus on relaxing.
4. Get help with your debt. Money is a huge stress-creator in many people’s lives, but you may not be as badly off as you think. Talk to a debt consultant to figure out a plan for paying off your credit cards and other loans.
5. Put yourself before others. This is a tough one – we all like to please other people! When faced with a decision, however, think of yourself first and others second. So, when Bob wants you to come into the office on Saturday after you’ve already planned to take your kid fishing, the answer should be no. You can still be a nice person…just don’t be a pushover. Believe me, people will start to take advantage.
6. Focus on your love life. Regardless of if you’re married or just dating, you should spend some time with that special person in your life. He/she should make you feel happy and less stressed – if that’s not happening, and your relationship is a factor in your high stress level, perhaps it’s not the right relationship for you. Still single? get out there and meet some people. You don’t have to fall in love, but just creating connections with the opposite stress is a great way to relieve built-up…tension. You know.
7. Have a hobby. You are not your job. So many people say “I am an accountant” or “I am a lawyer.” No you’re not. You WORK as an accountant or you WORK as a lawyer. There’s a difference. You job, unless it really is your passion in life 100%, does not have to define you. Having a hobby – something you do feeling passionately about – can really help to relieve your stress.
8. See a doctor. There’s nothing wrong with saying “My life is too hard to handle.” It’s not a wussy, whiny thing to do. Stress can have a ton of harmful side effects on your health. Talk to your doctor to learn more and to figure out ways to feel less stressed.

Photo: James D. Smith/Icon SMI