Welcome back Hornets! Here are 6 Mental Health Tips that will help you adjust to this new way of schooling and sport. We are here as a family and community to help each other. Use your resources, use your support systems and create opportunities for daily joy.
1.
Be proud of yourself for the work that you’re doing.
We all need that cheering squad to hype us up. Now’s the time to be that for yourself. You’ve come a long way so arriving at this moment is a BIG accomplishment
2.
Prioritize a consistent sleep schedule.
Did you know that sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer? Yep, studies have found clear evidence that increasing sleep has real benefits for athletes
“One study tracked the Stanford University basketball team for several months. Players added an average of almost 2 hours of sleep a night. The results? Players increased their speed by 5%. Their free throws were 9% more accurate. They had faster reflexes and felt happier. Other studies have shown similar benefits for football players and other athletes.”
https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/sleep-athletic-performance
3.
Keep a journal/thought log of your days so you can track mood patterns and feelings.
Just like a runner would log their mileage and paces or a golfer would map the course and yardage, a journal helps track your mindset from day-to-day.
4.
Keep a planner to stay organized & manage stress.
Just like coach plans out your training and practice schedule to ensure you are executing key work out, you too need to plan out your week to help you stay focused and execute priorities. Studies show people experience less stress when they are organized.
5.
Set aside time for breaks.
Just like we have water breaks or time-outs during practice or competition, develop a habit of giving yourself breaks to reset your focus. A break does not mean you are slacking or lazy, it means you are learning to pace yourself because life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
6.
Trust that things will work out, even in uncertain times.
You’ve made it this far. You’ve survived 100% of the things you were scared or uncertain of in the past. Just like we never know the outcome of a game or competition but you prepare as best as you can and trust your training- now’s the time to trust your life training. You can do this!
“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next…” -Gilda Radner
Dr. Gloria Petruzzelli 
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