Sam Woods sports psychology consultant asks “Can you cope with Covid-19?”
Today I spoke to a number of athletes whose Olympic dreams have changed, professionals who don’t know what they’ll be doing in 6 weeks or 6 months.
This is no different from all of you, who don’t know when you’ll be back to school or when your parents will go back to work. So, how do athletes cope and how can that help you?
Everything is up in the air, athletes like to control the controllable but right now, what is controllable? You may already know that you like to know what is going on and plan what you’re doing each day. Well if that’s you then this time might be really tough.
Athletes need discipline in sport as many of you will have in schools and at home each day. However, this disciplined approach can make it tough to share how you are feeling. The feeling of it’ll be ok, I’ll be ok, I’ll just move on can really stop you sharing how you feel right now.
It is more important than ever that we share, the feeling of I’ll be ok can only last a short time before our well-being suffers. Sadly, it then gets even harder to share how we are then feeling, telling your parents what worries you, why you’re angry or sad.
Something I use with young people such as yourselves is an emotion wheel. It makes it easier to share how you’re feeling, pointing to the emotions that you’re going through.
So, with your parents, siblings or anyone else you’re living with when you need to share, look at this wheel and use it to express where you are on it, point if that’s all you’re able to do. It will open the door to help you truly express, process and deal with how you feel and that is so important right now!
Having good communication with those around you whilst we all self-isolate is vital to feeling ok, reducing your parent’s worries and getting through the tough times ahead!
How to get in touch
As well as monthly articles, each month I will be answering questions that you send in. All questions will be answered anonymously and when you ask questions you will be helping so many others experiencing the same thing so please ask anything!
Remember to get your parent or guardian’s permission first!