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Its not an overstatement to say that making history is part of Ashleigh Johnsons life.
Harry How/Getty Images
Excelling is part of the job.
But when thepandemicdelayed the 2020 Summer Games, Johnson (like the rest of us) had major downtime.
My roommates went to their homes, and I was alone here, Johnson tells SELF.
So I was like, Okay, we’re not training right now.
I don’t need to be at the top of my game.
I need to give my body some time to rest.
The 26-year-old has dedicated much of her life to competing and advancing representation within water polo.
So quarantine was an opportunity torelaxandreflect.
The thing that surprised me the most was how hard it was to slow down, Johnson says.
Not only did Johnson get really comfortable with herself, but she also discoveredexercising for pleasure.
(Let me give myself the space to do yoga every day, she recalls thinking.)
I had to create my own structures and my own awareness of who I was, she says.
And that was interesting because I don’t get that time a lot.
I think that every Olympics is different in itself.
And that’s definitely not going to happen this time, which is sad.
So that’s going to be really cool.
I think that every athlete is just super grateful that it’s happening.
Theyre also preparing for what they can control.
We’re just there to be ready to perform and to represent.
Ive been sleeping really well.
Ive been prioritizing it because I realized how much it impacts how I perform, train, and feel.
Theres a world of difference between seven hours and eight and a half hours.
So I’ve been trying to get eight and a half to nine hours of sleep each night.
Its changed my world.
When we started training again, it was gradual.
Im sure it’s possible for you to relate because everyone has had to adjust.
The trainer made us feel really safe about getting back into training.
But it was a gradual process.
We didn’t just get back into the pool and start doing contact.
We’re doing opposite starts on opposite sides of the pool.
We were in separate groups, so I didn’t see my full team together for a long time.
Were still sanitizing and maintainingdistanceif we spend time apart.
Once Im home from practice, I have a skin-care routine.
I layer a bunch of productsIm really into my skin.
I love skin care, and I love trying new things!
I lose a lot of moisture from the chlorine, sun, and layering on so much sunscreen.
So anything that brings moisture, I’m about it.
After I shower I use CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, which is just tried-and-true for me.
I put on Hyaluronic Acid Serum from Ghost Democracy.
I use a C E Ferulic Acid from SkinCeuticals.
And one of my favorite products right now is Bioessance Vitamin C, Squalane Oil.
It’s really, really great at locking in moisture.
It’s so hydrating.
I use the facial one on my body when I’m in Florida because it’s super humid.
I haven’t changed this for years, and it’s really, really nice.
Lighting acandlechanges the mood in my room.
I love my room, and I love the space that I built.
But the candles have really made a huge difference for me.
Right now I’m reading a book calledThe Vanishing Half, and I love exploring our narratives through fiction.
I’m not a very organized person, but I love organization.
So for the past month or so, I’ve been really intentional about having my schedule written down.
I also give myself journal prompts.
Its important to have a full sense of identity, but its hard to have that in this process.
I’ve watched a lot of my teammates stop playing and be totally lost.
Sometimes you have to go through that to really get a feel of who you are.
But I think it’s also important to give yourself the opportunity to think through that before it happens.
And that’s part of recognizing patterns and understanding what’s important to me.
It helps me notice what will continue to feed my heart and my soul.
It’s also about recognizing the things Im grateful for.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
