Head in the Game

What is Head in the Game?

Hosted by athletes Reese Hardisty & Kite Robinson

Head In The Game is here to break boundaries. We wanted to create a podcast that dove into all the things in sports that are never talked about, focusing specifically on mental health. In addition to addressing these "unspoken truths" in sports, we interview student-athletes that have real and authentic stories/experiences to share. This show is designed to highlight the voices of these incredible individuals. Authenticity is what we are going for, and we hope that you can connect to even just a little bit of what we share. Thank you for being here, it means the world to us.

Learn more: https://sites.google.com/misd400.org/headinthegame/home

Kite:

Hi. I'm Kite Robinson.

Reese:

And I'm Reese Hardesty, and this is our show, Head in the Game.

Kite:

Today, we're interviewing Ella Zhang.

Ella:

Hi. Thank you guys so much for having me.

Kite:

She's a freshman at Mercer Island High School, and she does drill, dance, and runs.

Reese:

So, Ella, what are some personal routines or practices that you do to maintain your mental health during the sports season?

Ella:

Definitely taking days off really helps. I'm taking a break from dance right now. Just feeling like your homework is, like, swallowing you up or, like, you did not get good sleep. I always just, like, try to take the day a little bit easier. Like, I think it's so important to stay consistent.

Ella:

But, like, for running, for example, if I, like, did not eat well, like, that day or, like, the night before and I, like, did not have good sleep, I always try to take it easier because, like, in the long run, I feel like it's just better for my body. But I know, like, it's still important to stay consistent. I think that's just, like, a small thing I do. Also, one thing that I've, like, been doing recently was, like, remembering why I, like, love my sport and why I started it in the first place because when, like, just things get really hard, like, in my mental health gets just, like, unstable, I guess. Like, I start getting really stressed with, like, all the things I have to do with, like, school and sports.

Ella:

For dance, I love just, like, watching, videos on, like, people dancing. And for running, I, like, I also watch videos of people running, and it kinda makes me, like, romanticize my sport. And it makes me, like I don't know. It makes me really excited to go back to it. Also, I think just, like, going back to the thing of, like, taking days off, you can always just, like, I like cross training as well.

Ella:

I feel like it's a good way to, like, still improve at your sport, but also try something new and do something different. Because if you're, like, practicing, like, a lot every week, it's like I don't know. I think sometimes it can get repetitive. But, also, I think just in general, keeping, like, a good healthy association with my sport really helps. Like, even, like, if running gets hard or if drill gets hard and I feel like not going sometimes, I think, like, having a community really helps you with that because it, like, makes you wanna go.

Ella:

Like, if you like the people who you're doing that sport with, it makes it a lot easier to do.

Reese:

Totally. Yeah. And you mentioned cross training. Like, what kind of cross training do you do that you feel like is the most beneficial to you?

Ella:

Well, for running, I would say, just, like, going to the gym and, like, doing, like, leg exercises and stuff like that and also, like, StairMaster and things like that. Things that, like, work the same things, but, like, are still different because it's, like, hard to, like, go on a run sometimes. But being able to, like, go to the gym, like, with my sister or something can, like, really help with that.

Reese:

Totally. I feel like I can relate to that too because whenever I'm feeling, like, in a rut, especially in swim, like, I I always am like, oh, like, let's go to the gym. And it's a different community too. Like, do you ever feel like when you are cross training or even just being active in different ways, do you feel like that community helps you kind of get out of what you're used to or, like, the bubble of your sport, into a different community?

Ella:

No. Yeah. It really does. I feel like, like, the gym and, like, running outside have, like, different vibes to them.

Ella:

And being able to, like, have both is so nice because as I was, like, talking about, like, the days can feel so repetitive, especially if you're, like, training every day in, like, the same place. So just, like, changing up who you're around can really make, like, your sport more enjoyable.

Kite:

Keep listening to hear insight into how we maintain our mental health and our personal experiences in our sports.

Reese:

Welcome back. This is recent Kite on head in the game.

Kite:

And we're here to talk about some things you can do to maintain your mental health during the sports season. So what are things you do, Kite, to maintain your mental health in the sports season? Well, I think it's really important to rest and take breaks. But besides that, I think having a, like, a good attitude about your sport and making sure that you remember, like, why you do your sport, why you still enjoy your sport can, like, make it a lot more enjoyable and easier to, like, perform.

Reese:

Yeah. I mean, I feel like your why is, like, a big thing that people always mention, especially during burnout, because that's a big thing, kind of in the middle of the sports season, right, when you're really kind of getting what's the word? You're getting tired.

Kite:

You're

Reese:

Yeah. Yeah. When the grind is kind of really starting to begin, the competitions start happening. It's like, okay. You gotta remember your why.

Reese:

So, yeah, I think that's definitely a big thing so you don't lose your motivation.

Kite:

Mhmm. Definitely. Yeah. Also, making sure you have a really good support system. I think having, like, your teammates is obviously something that I know kept me going for a while, like, knowing you have other people around you?

Reese:

Yeah. I think community and having a good team behind you, even in individual sports, honestly, and sometimes I think even more in individual sports because, you know, something I've learned, especially from being in an individual sport myself, is that community really does make or break your performance and, your enjoyment of the sport. Because if you're not, like, showing up to you like, you have to think about. Right? Like, you show up to practice every day.

Reese:

You put so much time and effort into sport. It's like, why when when all of your when your performance goes out the window, you know, you're sick, you're out of practice, and you come back, you're like, your motivation's gone. Maybe your success isn't at that peak. It's like, okay. Why are you there?

Reese:

Well, if you have a good team behind you, you know, that motivates you for sure. Yeah. I don't know. Would you agree?

Kite:

I would. I think that having a really good strong community can, like, really, really help with your mental health.

Reese:

Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. Okay. So talking about I just wanna touch on so when you're balancing mental health during the sports season, I guess, what would you say is, like, your biggest challenge with balancing it all?

Kite:

I think one of my biggest challenges is maintaining, like okay. Growing in my sport and also, like, maintaining school and, like, my social life and all the other aspects of my life.

Reese:

Yeah. I think the balance is really hard for sure.

Kite:

Yeah. Especially as a student athlete, I think sometimes you get a little overwhelmed with school or with your sport, and, like, that can impact the other half of your

Reese:

early years. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think, especially during, like, the fall and sometimes, you know, end of semester one, beginning of semester two, kind of where we're at right now, honestly, in the school season and also just in the sports season. It's like a lot of these championships hit at the same time that, like, semesters or even sometimes just tests.

Reese:

You know? You have a test coming up and you're like, oh, my test is on Friday. But, like, this weekend, I've got a big, meet or game or championship, whatever, and you're, like, balancing that can be really hard and then in turn affecting your mental health for sure.

Kite:

Yeah. I agree. I think that being like, also knowing your limits

Reese:

Mhmm.

Kite:

Like, not pushing yourself too far to get injuries, but also, like, pushing yourself enough so that you're improving as you want to.

Reese:

Yeah. Yeah. And I think too, the other thing, at least something relevant, at least to me, this, like, winter kind of season, is, like, sickness and illness. Right? It's like so many people are getting sick.

Reese:

It's like, how do you deal with that and how does that affect your mental health? I feel like, personally, when I get sick and I'm like, I'm out of practices or games, you know, it's really hard because then you're like, you're looking back and you're like, my success just, like, went out the window or that's what it feels like. And maintaining your mental health, like, I guess some practices that I do is, like, making sure you take care of your body even when you are sick. Because when you're sick, right, like, the main thing is, like, you need to get better. Because otherwise, like, you're out of your sport for a while, and that can be really hard.

Ella:

Yeah.

Kite:

So Yeah. And you need to be able to, like, bounce back. Like, once once you're done with your sickness Yeah. Being able to come back to your sport is often really hard, I think. Like

Reese:

Yes. For sure.

Kite:

But making sure that you are, like, sleeping or you're eating well, still taking care of your body, it can really actually make a big difference.

Reese:

Yeah. And I think that's something to, like, physical health, like, actual, like, your body. Right? Like, getting sick or eating healthy or eating well. All of those things, you know, injuries, all of that really affects mental health, like, on a crazy insane level.

Reese:

And I think that's definitely something that can kinda be overlooked sometimes. It's like, okay. You know, struggling with mental health is one thing, but so is struggling with, like, eating well or getting to sleep. And that it's like a cycle. You have to make sure Yeah.

Reese:

You're doing one thing right to get the other thing right. You know?

Kite:

Yeah. And like you said, because it can also go, like, vice versa. Like

Reese:

For sure.

Kite:

Having being in your head about something can also impact your physical health.

Reese:

Right. Yeah. Yeah. It's something to think about and definitely something to be aware of, especially in this season of lots of championships, lots of big games, and competitions. So something to think about.

Kite:

Definitely. Thank you for listening to our show, Head in the Game.

Reese:

I'm Reese Hardesty.

Kite:

And I'm Kate Robinson.

Reese:

See you next time on KMIH eighty eight nine The Bridge.