Pass the Time – Vol. IX: Merve Dalbeler Aslan

How would a professional volleyball player spend the day productively these days without playing volleyball? The new chapter of the “Pass the Time” series features Merve Dalbeler Aslan sharing her life in the Covid-19 world.

Joining the “Pass The Time” campaign initially started by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) in order to entertain volleyball fans during this period they all spend at home, we decided to ask Eczacıbaşı VitrA ladies what their daily routines are, what kind of exercises they regularly practice and how they cope up with the current situation whilst at home.

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“While changing from a very intense schedule to working out at home, I decided to think like as if I just transitioned to the summer period. I am one of those athletes who keeps training when the season is over, so it has not been difficult to adapt myself to this situation. Like I prepare myself for the upcoming season during summer, I am now preparing myself for the possibility of having a game anytime.

I have always chosen to set myself a goal. Basically, I am focusing on the good sides of an at home workout. For example, I can work out while watching my favorite series. For an athlete who is used to train 4 hours a day it is surely not easy to stay home. When we stay inactive at home, sleeping gets tough in the night and we can get moody because we can’t discharge our energy. That’s why I focus on spending time for myself and my loved ones rather than feeling locked in the house. As I think of the safety of my loved ones, I can realize how precious it is to stay home.

Let me tell you how my days have been. I plan the day according to the time my body wakes up. When I wake up I do a 10-minute meditation on an empty stomach before I have breakfast with my husband while we watch the news. If the weather is nice we spend some time on the balcony. About 2 hours after breakfast I start to do my home workout. Sometimes I do it with my husband or sometimes I do it alone. Then comes the classic routine of taking shower and eating.

I have Master lectures three times a week. I spend some of my free time doing homework for them. I watch some series or movies during the rest of my time. Sometimes we play backgammon with my husband. My daily routine can change sometimes but so far I have spent my days like that. Also, I like drawing. I consider starting to draw in the following time.”