Mental Health: The Young Athlete
Young athletes are sometimes left to their own devices to figure out how to look after their mental health. But in reality, how many juniors know where to start with it? Do we as adults, really believe they have the tools to look after themselves physically & mentally whilst still growing up? Maybe not. But by educating them early in their lives and sporting careers, we can give them the best chance of growth, success & longevity, even if it is just a few sound pointers.
Here are a few ways that young athletes can continuously look after their mental health:-
Physical Health - Ensure that you take care of yourself physically through correct exercise, good nutrition & hydration a good sleep routine.
Mental Fitness - Identify a couple of less demanding activities outside of your sport that you can do when you feel your stress or anxiety levels start to rise.
Stay Connected - Try not to isolate yourself and keep in regular contact with your coach, friends & family
Talk without judgement - Don't be scared or embarrassed of talking to others about your feelings. There should be no judgement from people you trust.
Limit Social Media - Don't let SM influence your opinion of yourself and your abilities. Allow yourself a small amount of set time every day to ’scroll’, but only on things that you are interested in and offer value to you.
Structure & Schedule - Plan your weekly training, activities and chill out time, by keeping these in a calendar or planner. This instils routine and accountability.
Set Goals - Set some new goals that are realistic to achieve. This will help to boost your motivation and self-confidence.
Support Others - Be kind, helpful and supportive to others. Positive emotions lead to positive behaviours
Be Kind to yourself - Use some relaxing downtime to be with yourself to calm your body & mind
Parents are sometimes a little unsure where to start to enhance mindset and develop strong mental health in their junior athletes, and that's okay. Reach out and ask some questions.