Flau’Jae Johnson always had the makings of a champion: the candor of a musician, the endurance of a star athlete, and the finesse of a businesswoman. But initially, even she thought it was “impossible” to pursue all three things professionally. It was actually her mother who helped Johnson realize her dreams weren’t so far out of reach . . . so long as she went about them the right way. That meant careful time management, a strong work ethic, and consideration for the people supporting her along the way.
“When I was growing up in high school, I didn’t pay for trainers because I couldn’t afford it, for real,” the LSU star tells Popsugar. Whenever someone did offer to train her, she made a point to be on time and work as hard as she could — a sentiment that rings true to this day. “I know where I want to be, but [I’m] also respecting the people who are helping me on my journey,” she says.
A lot has changed since those high school days. But in partnership with Instagram, Johnson finally had the opportunity to pay it forward, returning to her alma mater, Sprayberry High School, where she helped organize a locker room makeover, hosted a pep rally, and surprised students. Looking back on her own journey, she mainly feels proud. “I didn’t do nothing in high school but basketball and music,” she says. “I was able to really lock in.” But at the same time, she knows this is only just the beginning.
“I want to work in all areas — sports and music.”
“I want to be a businesswoman. I want to work in all areas — sports and music,” Johnson says. “However I work, this is going to be a reflection of how my future might look.” With this in mind, one of the most valuable lessons she’s learned over the course of her college career is how to work smarter, not harder.
“At the end of [last] season, I had to sit out for the tournament — got shin splints and all that — I was like, ‘No, something’s gotta change,'” Johnson says. So she swapped her grueling two-hour workouts for shorter, more intentional sessions. She gave herself more time to sleep, going from a 5 a.m. wakeup call to 7 a.m. And you’ll never catch her skipping out on a pre-game meditation.
“I learned how to work smarter, I learned how to take care of my body, I learned about recovery,” Johnson says. “I feel like the way I’ve gotten better in my game is mentally; I journal a lot, I read a lot, and sort of get myself in that zen to where I can operate effectively.”
Now that she has a wellness routine she can rely on for physical and mental strength, Johnson feels more prepared for whatever the future may hold — including the WNBA. “When I think about the WNBA and going there, it gives me a little bit of anxiety, because I really don’t know where I’m going to be in the next six months,” she says. So until then, she’ll focus on the one thing she can control: “Winning the championship.”
Chandler Plante (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the Health & Fitness team at Popsugar. She has over five years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.
