During these unprecedented times there will many challenges for people across the country to face, one of those will staying healthy both physically and mentally.
Player Welfare Manager for Leeds Rhinos, Nigel O’Flaherty Johnston, who also runs his own coaching, mentoring and counselling service to support wellbeing in the sporting industry, has offered some advice for players and supporters.
Johnson said: “None of us have seen anything like this pandemic and the impact it’s having with everyone’s lives. It’s really important to listen to the experts and follow the guidelines that they and the government are instructing us to do.
“During this time, we are going to see a lot of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that we are probably not accustomed to., like anxiety, stress, anger, tears and just generally getting sick of the people around us, or not around us. We don’t usually spend this much time isolated with ourselves and family.
“It’s important that over the next few weeks we keep our mental fitness ticking over. How do we do this?
“My recommendation is to develop a routine, this is the first challenge because you have to create a completely different routine you are used to. When your new routine gets a little boring change it slightly. Don’t be afraid of trying new things.”
Here are some top tips from Nigel to maintain good mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Firstly, get a notebook, this will be really important tool, use it daily, make a diary. Your grandchildren are going to want to know what this is like. It will be a school project for them.
- Start to think and write in your notebook your new routine.
- Exercise. This is difficult when you have limited areas to work in so you will have to be creative and there are plenty of free online workouts such as the Rhinos 14 Day Challenge.
- Don’t text family and friends, phone them and have a conversation, or even video call.
- Find three pages together in your notebook, number them one, two and three. On sheet one, list the things that you are struggling with, list two put the things you can control from list one. On list three, list the things you can’t control from list one. Have a look of the lists for a few minutes, then cross out or tear up list three, YOU CAN’T CONTROL IT. We are going to work on list two, WE CAN CONTROL IT.
- I bang on about this a lot but when you’re doing your diary you have to start and write the three things your grateful for. You continuously have do this for at least 21 days to see a difference, so 11.15.18 days isn’t good enough. Also start to write at least two things per day that you’ve done well for yourself or others.
- People during my lifetime ask how I am so laid back, it’s Mindfulness, a discipline I practice daily for 15 minutes. Give this a go please some but maybe not all will find this really useful, but like anything it’s practice so don’t give it up at the first hurdle. We have 1440 minutes in the day, do a Mindfulness Mediation for 15 minute we still have 1425 of the day to go. Go onto You Tube, type in 15-minute guided meditation, you will have plenty of selection. Breathing is a main focus, below is instruction for the breathing technique I use. Also below is The Raisin Meditation, give it a go. Try experiment and you will find a preferred ones.
- Lastly, all the above will help you create your Mental Fitness Tool Bag, you will find things on this journey that help you keep mentally fit, embrace them, get them in the toolbox and use them.