Practice makes perfect, which is why Olympic athletes spend most of their waking hours in training. This workload is even more daunting for student-athletes who have little to no room for a work-life balance.

“Unlike athletes who focus solely on their sport, student-athletes are juggling school schedules and work along with training and competing,” Davis says. “They are also dealing with the pressure of social expectations from peers as they try to build their social identities.”

Davis says it’s important for student-athletes to be aware of their unique challenges and to seek help when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

“The pressure to earn scholarships, gain college admission, or even transition to professional sports can be extremely overwhelming,” Davis says. “All of these challenges can lead to sleep issues, burnout, poor academic performance, and the inability to maintain peak sports performance.”