Five Tips From A DPT For Athletes Who Are Struggling Mentally With Their Injury

  1. Support network – It takes a village. This old saying applies to any struggle. Make sure to have a strong support system built with friends, family, coaches, teammates, PTs, etc. You may even consider consulting a sports psychologist.
  2. Planned rest periods – By making it a point to plan your rest, you devote time to your mental wellbeing. This helps to keep yourself motivated and determined. It also prevents over training and burnout.
  3. Imagery/Visualization – Things like visualization, journaling, vision boards, and writing out daily affirmations and intentions are all ways help you SEE your goal come to life. It sets the tone to take your goals out of your mind and into the real world. Simple things, such as progress pictures and videos, help you to see where you were when you forget or feel lost on the journey.
  4. Stress management – We all get stressed when we’re not 100%. Practicing stress management such as mindfulness and meditation can assist in reducing the weight on your shoulders.
  5. Realistic goal setting – Sometimes shooting for the stars can be WAY too overwhelming. Try setting stepstone goals instead, which are short term goals that help track progress towards long term goals.