Monique Billings is a forward for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. Billings, who grew up playing travel basketball, honed her skills on the court during her time at UCLA before being drafted by the WNBA in 2018. Despite her busy schedule, she’s committed to approaching life thoughtfully, taking quiet time to recharge and eliminating distractions that might otherwise inhibit her personal and professional growth. Always hoping to inspire, Billings shares her advice for pursuing optimal balance and self-care in her new book, Finding Balance: A Playbook for Wellness.
One thing I try to do every day is…
pray and spend time with myself, whether that’s journaling, doing yoga [or] taking a moment to be still and be silent.
I feel most alive when…
I am trying new things out of my comfort zone but enjoying it all at the same time.
A professional experience that changed my life was…
getting drafted into the WNBA. In that moment, everything changed for me. I became a professional athlete… and my whole lifestyle changed.
My mantra is…
to be better than yesterday, not as good as tomorrow.
To avoid distractions, I…
try to limit myself from being around them. I live a very disciplined life. I’m trying to always think of what’s good for my future self and how I can continue to grow and be the best version of myself.
My go-to workout is…
strength workouts—a lot of power and Olympic lifting. I also love flow yoga.
I never leave home without…
my lip gloss, perfume and a face spray—things that make me feel good when I’m on the go.
When I need a jolt of energy, I…
will eat some fruit, drink a smoothie and try to just pour into myself in positive ways.
I handle negativity by…
allowing myself to feel and process all of the emotions that come with that, and understand why I’m letting a situation affect me a certain type of way… and then I try to address it head on.
The most surprising thing about me is…
I am very introverted. I’m an introverted extrovert. A lot of people who see me probably think I’m a very outward person, which I am. But I also love my space. I have to recharge in my space. And I like taking time [to hold] space for myself.
The biggest risk I ever took was…
moving to different countries for basketball, playing in these countries and living in these countries for extended periods of time. A lot of times, I don’t do research on where I’m gonna live. I just showed up, and it always worked out so smoothly and beautifully.
I want people to know me for…
being a light—being positive, inspiring and a truly genuine, pure soul.
In 10 years, I hope to…
have a family. I want to have kids, a husband… [I] love that family life.
I define success as…
continuing to become the best version of myself. Committing to something, making a plan to stick with it, executing and following through.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photo by ©CREATE WHAT’S TRUE/courtesy of Monique Billings.
Lopez is a freelance writer based in Hampton, Virginia.
