It’s finally Friday which means you all deserve a cocktail (or 2) and some serious R&R! Weekends in Germany are probably my favorite thing, especially when the weather gets warmer. Everyone is outside biking, grilling, having picnics, shopping and just genuinely enjoying time with family and friends. It’s so refreshing to see everyone outside relaxing and having fun. I shouldn’t have to tell you that weekends in Germany are also reserved for football! Match Day is no joke around here and people spend all day preparing for their favorite team’s game. When game day rolls around at our house, Ryan follows a routine from the very moment he wakes up to the last minute before the game begins. I wouldn’t say he is necessarily superstitious about following the same routine, but I think he just enjoys knowing exactly what he has to do in each moment. This way he is confident heading into the game knowing that he is fully prepared.
When match day arrives, Ryan has a few items that he loves and uses in order to get himself in the zone and ready to play. So, today I am sharing Ryan’s Game Day Essentials with you! You can also get a peek at Ryan’s home stadium and see my personal favorite spot- the locomotive!
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Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my stories and have a full understanding as to why Ryan loves this speaker so much! It is his go-to item for shower karaoke or for when he needs to blast his (awful) music to get pumped up. I swear he turns this thing on as soon as he wakes up in the morning and it stays on until he is out the door. It is perfect for us because it’s so lightweight and wireless, so you can pick it up and carry it wherever you want to go. Don’t be fooled by the small-ish design of it though, this speaker can REALLY bump and the battery lasts for hours on hours!
Compression Socks
If Ryan had to pick one thing he couldn’t live without on game day, it would probably be these! He LIVES in these socks before and after games, especially when the weather is warm. For those of you who know Ryan personally, you have probably noticed the massive varicose veins he has on his lower leg. Occasionally, he experiences some achiness or a “heavy leg” feeling and he swears by these socks to alleviate some of his symptoms. Even if you don’t have a vein issue like Ryan does, these socks have so many uses, primarily if you are an athlete! The compression from the socks increases circulation and helps prevent delayed onset muscle soreness, the fabric keeps your feet at a constant comfortable temperature in the cold or hot months, and the cushioning prevents blisters when wearing tighter shoes or cleats. Ryan also recommends wearing these while traveling! If you are going to be sitting on a bus for an extended period of time, these will really help with maintaining good circulation.
Bose Headphones
But of course, everyone needs a good pair of headphones! Ryan has owned a few pairs of headphones, but these have been his favorite pair so far. They are probably THE most comfortable headphones either one of us has ever owned, and it will definitely be a sad day when they break or get lost. They claim they don’t have an active noise canceling feature but in my opinion, they are for sure partially noise-canceling. Is that a thing? Semi-noise canceling? Well…I’m making it a thing now. All I know is that when Ryan is busy playing Fortnite, he cannot hear a word I’m saying when I’m only 5 feet away. He may be ignoring me, but I’m going to continue to blame the headphones (haha). So when it comes to game day, he pops these bad boys on as soon as he’s out of the house, when he’s in the locker room, and also when traveling. The ear cushions are cozy enough where he can wear them all day without getting that sore-ear feeling (Y’all know what I mean, right?) and they block out enough noise where he can be left alone with his music to get ready to play.
Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence
This is a great book for any athlete to read! Ryan was introduced to this while in college and it has been such a helpful tool over the past few years. Mind Gym discusses how your mind can impact your performance as an athlete just as much as your physical qualities might. The book contains lessons, stories, and inspirational tidbits in order to teach its readers how to build their “mental muscle”. Ryan has referred back to this book more times than I can count. If he’s feeling discouraged or having a tough week, he turns to Mind Gym to get a bit of perspective and gain back his confidence. This book has really helped Ryan to learn about the other side of success in athletics, while also working towards understanding and improving upon his own mental game.
If you’re an athlete yourself, what are some things that you can’t live without on game day? Let me know in the comments below. I wish you all a fantastic weekend filled with lots of relaxation, fun, and of course, football! If you want to shop Ryan’s Game Day Essentials, you can scroll down to view the products!
