As Ghana’s first skeleton Olympian, I frequently use my platform to talk about sports and mental health. Recently, the issue came under discussion again when Naomi Osaka opted to withdraw from the French Open and Wimbledon instead of being forced to participate in press conferences.

Below, I’ll take a closer look at how sports can help mental well-being, and offer some tips on how aspiring professional athletes can take better care of their mental health:

How Sports Improve Mental Health

People who participate in sports get to enjoy a wide range of benefits that improve mental health, and include:

Stress Management

Physical activity doesn’t need to be vigorous to be effective. But since most sports involve intense activity levels, they help in reducing stress. When you play sports, you experience an endorphin rush that decreases pain. Stress hormones, such as cortisol, are also restricted.

Better Mood

Playing sports can improve your mood by promoting the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine. Creating a new personal record, scoring a goal, or achieving any kind of milestone triggers reward centers in the brain.

Less Loneliness

The many hours of practice you get to do with your teammates—not to mention the workouts, sporting competitions, and social events—forges a strong bond. Team sports also require players to their teammates and cooperate with them.

As a result, you’re less likely to feel isolated and lonely if you know you’ve got people you can count on. Even people who participate in solo sports can benefit by training with other players.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Even though sports have a generally positive impact on mental health, the opposite is true as well. External pressures, unrealistic expectations, or a variety of other factors can cause an athlete’s mental health to suffer.

This is particularly true for elite athletes, who struggle with mental health issues more often because they typically have more at stake.

Here are a few tips to remember:

Know Your Limits

As athletes, we know how to push ourselves further and further. But we should also remember not to push ourselves to the breaking point. Respecting our personal limits is a healthy habit, not a flaw.

Listen to Your Mind

Here, athletes have a unique advantage because our motivation to do better comes from our minds. We can use that same connection in other areas of life. Learn to listen to what your mind and emotions are telling you.

Be Proactive

The best thing you can do for yourself is to be as proactive about your mental health as you are about your physical health. Putting your mental health first is always a good idea, especially for athletes.

Conclusion

Athletes challenge themselves to consistently do better, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of mental health. Taking care of your mental health can make you an even better athlete and a stronger person.

Being an athlete and entrepreneur, I’ve created the Hope of a Billion movement that represents the dreams of a continent. As I train for Beijing 2022, you can join my journey by buying Frimpong clothing from my store, subscribing to my YouTube, and following me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.