May Mental Health Awareness Month: š¤ ā¤ļø
- Annalisa McGuinness
- May 1
- 2 min read
Hi Skaters & Parents,
I wanted to acknowledge that May is the Mental Health Awareness month and share some of my own mindfulness techniques that I use in my own daily life to regulate my nervous system. Iām sure everyone is aware of the USC Speak your mind challenge circulating social media however these trends donāt actually bring about change to improve mental health, unless we work together as coaches, parents, and athletes to hold ourselves accountable. We can change our daily mindsets one (positive) thought at a time.
I am very motivated to set goals and accomplish them. I am also eager to grow and embrace change on a personal and professional level. I credit this to my ability to accept constructive criticism and feedback. I am so grateful to my parents, mentors, & coaches who molded me into a teachable athlete, employee, coworker, friend, and human being.Ā
On a daily basis, I have incorporated many techniques to help me stay mindful and on track to achieve my goals and improve my mental and physical health. Firstly, I began meditating on a consistent basis when I am feeling overwhelmed or activated. This can be as simple as deep breaths, yoga, listening to soundscapes/calming music, or headspace videos/podcasts. This helps me relax and let go of tension and stress in my body. Secondly, I have grown to love journaling and keeping track of my day-to-day current events. I have two journals, one for tracking my moods, diet, activity/sleep, and the other is a gratitude journal that helps ground me and put things in perspective. Lastly, I am intent on incorporating daily exercise to help boost my mood and release endorphins. Currently my favorite workouts consist of skating, solid core, yoga exercises, dancing, and off-ice. I hope my advice and posts inspire you to take care of your mental, physical, and overall well-being. Thank you for joining me on my Mental Health awareness journey.Ā
I have attached many resources pertaining to this topic. Please see my journal entries attached:
Skating Journal pdf (from this weekās private lessons)
Word doc with Videos/Journal Ideas:
Wishing everyone a Happy Mental Health month! ā¤ļø š š
With Love,
Coach Annalisa
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