The Ins & Outs of Managing Mental Health for Athletes
The Ins & Outs of Managing Mental Health for Athletes
As a Club that tirelessly champions countless high-performing sportspeople, we know all too well that playing sports can be as mentally challenging as it is physical. Managing our mental health is not always a walk in the park, but below are a few small ways in which we can set ourselves up for success.
Being an athlete is an incredible experience, learning discipline, resilience, and teamwork–but sometimes we can lose sight of the things that allow us to balance it all.
It’s important for any sportsman to recognise the pressure in the first place, especially when you begin to take on more responsibility, or when you begin to perform on a bigger stage. It’s natural to want to succeed, and not unusual to ignore the intensity of sports in favour of “not letting it get to you”, but ramping up the pressure too much can lead to burnout or anxiety.
What helps? Just as you’re told to listen to your body, you should also be listening to your mind. Athletes are well-versed in pushing through physical tiredness or pain, but mental fatigue is different. Ignoring the symptoms of stress, sadness, or frustration can hurt not only your performance but also your overall mental wellbeing. These symptoms can come in the form of constant fatigue, the loss of enjoyment in your sport, irritability, or trouble sleeping.
When you get an inkling that you may be struggling with any mental fatigue, always remember that rest is part of your training. Additionally, practicing mindfulness via breathing exercises, meditation, calming yoga, or journalling are all excellent methods for managing stress. Another important thing to note is that although sport is a big part of your life, it still isn’t everything. Having hobbies, friendships, and downtime outside of athletics keeps you grounded. If you only ever focus on one thing, the wins feel amazing, but the losses also feel devastating. Take time to relax and do the things you enjoy, or explore different hobbies during your downtime! Doing something new can reset your way of thinking, and you can immerse yourself in an activity that is completely different before diving back into your sport with a refreshed outlook. Perhaps most importantly, it’s good to go back to the basics from time to time: why do you love your sport? Reconnecting with the joy of playing and focusing on the process–not just about winning–can relieve your stress and reignite your passion. Normalise talking about how you feel, and this sometimes starts with checking in on your teammates and friends, so you can create an open dialogue and show support beyond playing the sport. You are more than your performance–and taking care of your mental wellbeing is just as good a practice as going to your morning training.
