5 Tips for helping with Post Competition Blues

I wish I’d known that!

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It’s just over a week since the Paris Olympics have finished and I’m still loving seeing loads of posts about the amazing experiences people have had at the Games.

Having worked at a few large multi-sport events, it can be so hectic and all consuming during the event that you only really get a chance to tap back into the ‘real world’ afterwards, including sharing your experiences.

But the other thing I noticed I experienced, and this also happened to so many others that I’ve spoken to over the years, is the dip afterwards.

It’s understandable if you’re an athlete. You’ve been focusing on this goal for SO long, possibly stemming from when you were a kid. Whether it’s your first Olympics or you’re a multiple Olympian, there’s the excitement/pressure/thrill/emotions of competing at the highest level and in front of the World!

There’s also the dopamine rush of the ceremonies, meeting new people, being around fellow athletes/friends, winning, losing and everything else that goes into making up a huge event.

So this dip afterwards, I call it the Post Comp Blues, is a really common occurrence.

Athletes should be prepared for it.

Many go on holidays. Some jump back into a next competition. Some have the media rounds and the high continues for a while longer.

However, most will find a time to decompress at some point. And this is so necessary.

But interestingly, this also happens for the support staff, the Games staff, the volunteers and anyone else who has been involved in putting on the Games.

I was really surprised after my first time working at my first Commonwealth Games how wiped I was afterwards. I hadn’t expected to feel that, even though I understood a lot about the psychology of performance.

Having learned so much more about this over the years, here are 5 Top Tips to help you or someone you know if they’re having a dip after a big event.

1. Reconnect with family and friends.

The time running up to the Games will have been really intense, with probable tunnel vision, so family and friend time will probably have been neglected. Arranging a holiday or get togethers can be a great way to reconnect. Those close to you will remind you that you’re more than an athlete, which is so powerful no matter how you performed.

Try and find some quiet time in amongst all this to relax too. Some will find this easier to do than others!

You might also want to catch up with fellow athletes or others who were involved in the experience. Hearing that others are probably feeling the same can be so reassuring. And having people to share those memories with, who’ve lived it too, are so useful. Group Whatsapp chats tend to ping a lot at this time!

2. Journal and keep a training log.

Keeping a training log is so useful for so many reasons. One great reason is that it shows you patterns, whether that’s to do with peaking or recognising bumps in the road. If you notice that you have had a slump after previous big tournaments, the likelihood is that you may have one this time. You may choose to put in a reduced training schedule at this time or even take some time off from training all together.

Journalling is another fantastic way to record your thoughts, emotions and how you’re feeling. Again, you may notice a pattern from previous events. But it’s also great to just let your mind empty out and to express how you’re feeling etc in a safe place. It’s not a place for judgement, just let your thoughts flow.

3. Put something else in the Calendar.

I always loved this one. One year I moved house a week after coming home from a competition. Another year it was picking up my new car.

Having something else to focus on, and this includes holidays from number !, is a great way to give yourself something to look forward to. Finishing a competition can feel like there’s a chasm in front of you, so having a new focal point just gives you some direction again.

You can also look to put another competition or event in the diary, but try to give yourself that recovery time too, your body and mind will need it.

4. Try other things.

Whether you’ve been competing or working, the chances are that it’s been a highly focused and pressurised time running up to the Games. And especially if you’re competing, all your training will have been focused on peaking at that right moment.

Now the Games are done, perhaps try out other physical activities that you can have some fun with. Playing sports that you don’t usually get to play or trying out a different type of exercise that gives your body something different to do can be fun as well as relaxing.

For some people, they pretty much don’t want to move afterwards! But the majority still want to move their bodies, so why not explore something new.

5. Speak with a mental health coach or professional

For some, this dip can actually feel like depression. They might feel disappointment, depleted, low mood or fatigue. There may be crying spells, dwelling on the performance/result, changes in appetite or just not being able to enjoy things like they used to.

With the Post Comp Blues, this is usually different from depression, as there’s an identifiable trigger and it will hopefully last a shorter time.

However, it can still be really useful to speak with a professional to find ways to work through some of these thoughts and emotions and to build coping strategies that help move the person forward.

It’s nothing to feel embarrassed or ashamed about, it’s just helping the body and mind deal with a massive event in your life. And you’ll have even more strategies to use in the future!

You don’t have to be an Olympian to be feeling a big dip after a major event, so these can work in so many situations.

But if you’re feeling like you want to speak more, just drop me a dm and lets chat.

#Olympics #ParisOlympics #Paris2024 #PostGamesBlues #depression #lifeaftersport #professionalathlete #proplayer #awehub

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