The fall semester is underway at Lincoln Land Community College! Back-to-school time is exciting but can also be an overwhelming time for people. It means summer is closing, and the crisp, fall air is on its way. It is far more exciting for me as a coach because it means volleyball season is upon us! Playing 12 years of competitive volleyball and now going on to my 13th year of coaching, I know how challenging this time of year can become, especially for fall athletes.
I am the head women’s volleyball coach at LLCC, and as a coach, it is my job to not only teach my players the sport, but also life skills. I am so grateful for all the coaches I have had in my life because they each taught me something that made me a better person. All coaches want their players to be successful on the court or field, most want them to be successful in the classroom and some want their players to succeed in life. As coaches, it is our duty to help our players be successful in all aspects. That includes building up their confidence, believing in them and teaching them how to take care of their mental wellbeing.
The longer I coach, the more I realize how important it is not only for myself, but also my players and students to take care of their mental health. It is not always easy to set aside time for yourself, but it is necessary. If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness. It is time for you to take control of your mental health and take steps to practice self-care!
To many people, self-care means running a hot bath, doing a face mask and letting all your worries wash away. What many forget, is that self-care can also mean doing the little things that must be completed, such as making that doctor’s appointment, paying bills, doing the stack of dishes, tackling that ceiling-high pile of laundry and organizing your home, and the overwhelming list goes on. Set a goal to do one thing per day. A little progress each day adds up to a lot. Be disciplined in doing the things you may not want to do but need to do, and reward yourself with the fun side of self-care!
One of my favorite self-care techniques is practicing yoga/meditation. On days in which my players are feeling more stressed than usual, it is crucial that I listen to their needs. I will end practice 20-30 minutes early and practice yoga with my players. There is nothing like throwing on peaceful nature sounds on YouTube, rolling out a yoga mat and stretching while deep breathing. Let your mind wander, and keep your eyes closed. Focus on what your mind keeps wandering to, and face it head on because that is likely what is causing you stress. Doing yoga can help people feel less anxious or stressed, sleep better, provide clarity and improve mood.
Furthermore, I encourage you to practice the law of acceptance just like I challenge my players to do daily. Focus on what is in your control, and let the rest go. You cannot control other people’s words or actions, the past, future outcomes, etc. Instead, focus your energy on what you can control: your attitude, your effort, being punctual, how you respond to situations, gratitude, taking care of yourself, your words, etc. Switching your focus to the things in your control will help your mental health immensely. Of course, life will throw many curve balls, but what matters is how you respond to adversity.
Adversity can present itself in many different forms, and we are all going to face it at some point this year. However, I am a true believer in “everything happens for a reason.” Sometimes we may not know what that reason is, but the universe has a plan. Change your mentality from, “Why is this happening to me?” to, “What am I learning from this?” That simple switch has helped myself, and my volleyball players, tremendously.
Just remember that we are all in this together. Everyone has a story that you know nothing about, and everyone carries situations differently. Please be kind, take care of yourself and support others. Within the LLCC volleyball program, we practice what we preach, and I do my best to lead by example. However, we need one more thing to be successful this season — your support! We love the support our Loggers receive from our wonderful community. If you’re looking to get out of the house for your self-care, I encourage you to come out for a volleyball game! Visit lincolnlandloggers.com to view our schedule. Roll Logs!