To highlight Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re sharing the ways our coaches practice self-care. It’s important to take care of our mental health every single day and it’s helpful to have somewhere to start. We hope this encourages you to learn more about how you can support yourself and others in your community! 

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”

Maya Angelou

Ways We Practice Self-Care

Coach Harris: “I find a lot of peace in seeing the life around me thrive. Self-care hobbies include caring for my pets including fish/shrimp/crabs, and plants.”

Coach Kaitlyn: “I listen to a lot of podcasts that feature mental health specialists (i.e. On Purpose with Jay Shetty and Real Pod by Victoria Browne), and I try to prioritize getting exercise whether through walking or taking a class somewhere just to stay active after sitting at work all day. Also, now that the weather is warmer, I enjoy sitting outside.”

Coach Mila: “I take care of myself through movement. Playing volleyball cures whatever is wrong but taking walks outside also works. I also love cleaning with music on and then reading a comfort book.”

Coach Sam: “I read a lot to gain perspective and understanding. It allows me to organize my thoughts and thinking in the proper context.”

Coach Amanda: “I love taking time to be outside! I find that the fresh air and sunshine or cool breeze just calms and centers me and resets me!”

Coach Christine: “When I’m feeling down I like to cuddle with my dog, take a bath and get in bed with a good book!”

Coach Carol: “I like to do something creative! I’m a writer so I try to spend time writing when I can, but I also like doing any other artistic activity like pottery or painting. Something that has helped me a lot in regulating my mental health over the years and being present in caring for myself has been going to therapy and implementing the changes that I learn in therapy. Finding the right therapist for you can be hard, and it can definitely be uncomfortable, but it can really be beneficial. There are some resources around if people need them to be able to see counselors or social workers for low or no cost, and school can be a great place to start if athletes don’t know where to look for options like that.”