Sport Hub
Taking part in sport and being part of a team has a positive impact on mental wellbeing. There are lots of resources out there to support this and the good news is it is not based on skill level.
Being physically active can improve your mood and lead to a better and more balanced lifestyle.
Sports and group activities are a way to gain the self-confidence and motivation needed to achieve personal and professional goals.
Exercise can help you stay calm and strengthen your mental and physical well being. It keeps your mind healthy and focused. It takes commitment, but the results are worth it. Why not try introducing a little exercise into your day? Maybe just five minutes at first, if it feels too overwhelming. Once you try it you’ll soon get the movement bug! And the more you do, the better you’ll feel.
THINGS YOU CAN TRY
Listed below are some of the strategies and activities you can try to help you stay motivated and enable you to keep going.
TAKE A WALK
When you go for a walk, take time to really notice all the beauty around you. Being in nature brings a sense of peace and belonging and can make you feel more connected to others. And all of this is free for the taking, it’s Mother Nature’s gift to us, her natural medicine.
LET’S DANCE
When you start dancing you find you can get out of your head, shut down the thoughts for a while, and just feel into your body. All physical exercise, including dance, can be healing. When the music is on, listen in to it, tune into your body and notice how you’re feeling and release any unwanted feelings or emotions. It works wonders… try it. Don’t worry about how good a dancer you are or aren’t, it’s not about what you look like, it’s about letting it all go and expressing yourself and your feelings… good or bad.
SHAKE IT OFF
When we have tension and trauma, the old parts of the brain become stuck in defence mode, making us tight and contracted and our body is always ready for fight or flight. Shaking can help the body release deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma.
We’ve all seen animals on wildlife programmes when they manage to escape the jaws of a predator, they just pick themselves up, have a good shake carry on as if it never happened. The reason being, once out of danger, they shiver and shake and release the trauma from their bodies. We’re the only species that keep it all bottled up inside. We grin and bear it. This is NOT good for us in any way! So maybe start off by shaking on the spot for 5 mins, stand up straight, start by shaking from your feet and legs, (it’ll feel like you are slightly bouncing) then allow the shaking to extend to all the other parts of your body, hips, tummy, and spine, hands and arms, neck and head.
You may also be interested in TRE, a safe and easy way of releasing tension through shaking through 6 easy exercises. Click here to find out more.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS
SOCIAL
The social aspect that comes with being part of a team is fantastic for your wellbeing. Even if you join a team not knowing a soul, playing sport has a funny way of fast-tracking friendships. Human connection is such an important factor in maintaining good mental health. Being part of a team adds a support network that you wouldn’t otherwise have.
DE-STRESS
Sport is a proven de-stressor. It forces you to apply yourself fully to the task at hand, leaving behind thoughts and worries you may have had beforehand. In their place, sport stimulates the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural happy chemicals.
TEAMWORK
Playing a sport alongside others teaches us the value of teamwork. Instead of reading about it or being lectured about it, sport forces you to put it into practice. It also helps develop leadership skills that can be applied in all areas of life.
Team sports teach you how to deal with setbacks. No team wins all the time. Dealing with a loss or a poor performance, learning from it, and trying again is all part of the journey. Setbacks build resilience and this can be carried over into everyday life, helping you to navigate the tough times and find a way through them.
SLEEP BETTER
Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep and playing sport helps you get a better night’s sleep. We all know how important sleep is to our overall wellbeing – after training or competing, mind and body are ready for a good night’s rest. Lack of sleep can have a detrimental effect on your mental health. People with mental health problems are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders as you may already know from experience. After a sleepless night, you can feel irritable and short-tempered, and more stressed. Whereas if you sleep well, your mood often returns to normal and the world feels easier to tackle.
South London Special League (SLSL)
SLSL is a sports charity aimed at providing those with mental health issues a way of alleviating their condition through sports. I was honoured to be invited to one of their monthly football tournaments – and what an experience it turned out to be! I met so many people with different mental health conditions there, and it made me realise just how important sport is. Not just for our physical health, but for our mental state too. It made me aware of how much of a confidence booster playing sports can be. How it brings people together through their shared love of the sport, and how it builds trust between people as well as improving personal development. I really enjoyed being a part of this and hope many more who find it hard to socialise or meet people can do the same through the power of sport.
Take a look at their video and for more information see their Facebook page.
“The league has given me focus and a purpose in life by issuing me with responsibility as a player/manager. It has helped motivate me to attend every month over the past five to six years to help people play competitive football with mental health conditions. Never had I felt so proud to be asked to speak at the Mayor of London’s offices in front of F.A funders to explain what SLSL means to me.
I am immensely grateful for Sesi’s contribution to the success of our team. Even when called upon at short notice he turns up with a positive mental attitude and is an excellent role model for inspiring our teammates to produce more and work harder on the pitch improving our results. Definitely, one of my best ever signings and the biggest compliment I can pay is rival clubs/staff always ask about him when he’s not available!
In such a short space of time he’s become a memorable integral part of our league.”
Champions Connect Football Tournament 2021
This sports event focused on developing social relations through the power of sport. This particular event brought together players with a mental health condition as well as those who do not, through their love of football, to develop social skills and learn from each other's experiences. There were two parts to this event. The first round was followed by a mental health presentation. The second round was the finale where the medals and trophy were handed out to the winning team as well as a special prize for the 'Star of the Tournament'. This is a special event that enables those who struggle to socialise to find their way, and with the support of good people, recognise that it is definitely possible to achieve.