Your Mental Health Matters!
Your mental health matters!
Monday was World Mental Health Day so let’s talk a little bit about mental health…
When was the last time you paused and checked in with yourself? Took a moment to see how you’re feeling, what you need and where you’re at in order to feel your best.
You probably do this physically, right? You check in with how your body feels. Maybe at practice you notice your muscles are tight, or you notice a little pain somewhere. But do you do the same thing with your mind?
As an athlete it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You have so much going on and you probably feel like most days you're bouncing from one thing to the next with little time to rest.
With the hustle and bustle, we tend to forget to check in with ourselves and make sure we’re getting everything we need to feel our best. Especially when it comes to mental health.
Maybe your thought is, “I like the hustle and bustle”. Or maybe you're thinking “I have to do the hustle and bustle to reach my goals.” If this is you I want to challenge you on this a little bit.
“I like the hustle and bustle.”
There’s no doubt it feels great to cross things off your to-do list and reflect on a busy day feeling accomplished. But, even when you’re getting so much done you might still feel a little off. Whether it’s feeling a little overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, or tired, over time these things can take a toll on you. It’s important to recognize that even though it feels good to accomplish things, it’s just as important to slow down and take care of yourself.
“I have to do the hustle and bustle to reach my goals.”
The first thing that comes to mind is that quote “there is always someone else working harder than you”. While in theory this quote can be motivating, I think it can also lead to anxiety and burn out. What will actually help you reach your goals, is feeling at your best so that you can bring your best. This means taking care of yourself and not overextending yourself because you think you have to.
Ultimately, the more you can slow down and check in with yourself the easier it will be to show up as your best self. And the best way to do this is self-care!
Self-care allows you to slow down, check in with yourself, and take care of yourself. These are small things you can do to nourish your mind and recharge when you're feeling the weight of life, sport, school, and all of the things you have on your plate.
Here are a few of my favorite self-care tips:
Do something you enjoy! Stretch, get outside, call a friend, play video games. Whatever it is that brings you joy, do it! When you allow yourself to do things that bring you joy, it will fill you with energy and happiness.
Check in with how you feel. Ask yourself how you're feeling today. If you're not feeling great, that's okay! It's normal to have those days where you aren't feeling your best. Allow yourself to feel your feelings no matter what they are. And, it’s important not to judge yourself for feeling a certain way.
Say something positive to yourself. Oftentimes we spend so much time judging, criticizing, and nit-picking ourselves that we forget to lift ourselves up. Have a go-to positive thought you can use. Or an affirmation that you say to yourself daily to set the tone for your day.
Write down 5 things you're grateful for at the end of the day. This is always a good way to feel more positive and optimistic from day to day. Gratitude reminds us of all the abundance in our lives as we work towards our goals. It allows us to slow down and reflect on all of the good things we have.
When self-care is a priority, you’re making your mental health a priority. And when your mental health is a priority you are allowing yourself to be your best self!
Happy World Mental Health Day!
P.S. When you aren’t feeling like yourself, reach out to others and let them know how you feel. Whether it’s a friend, a parent, a coach, it’s important to let others know that you might need support in what you are facing. Trust me, the people in your corner know that your mental health matters!
P.S.S. Ready to make your mind a priority? Schedule a consultation today!