Just a few months later, then-Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley voluntarily took the bench to focus on his "mental wellbeing" — becoming one of many NFL players to do so. Since then, snowboarder Chloe Kim, Olympic swimmers Kyle Chalmers and Caeleb Dressel, MLB players Daniel Bard and Austin Meadows, and many other athletes have gone public with their own struggles. So much so that some sports orgs have made plays to step up support: The National Women's Soccer League now lets players take up to six months of paid mental health leave, thanks to its first-ever collective bargaining agreement. Last year, the NCAA's Mental Health Advisory Group convened for the very first time. And the US women's national team is currently using its World Cup platform to kick off a new mental health initiative that has young athletes in mind. Important, since 38% of female student athletes and 22% of male student athletes said they felt "mentally exhausted constantly," according to the NCAA's own survey. Not to mention that less than half of women surveyed felt their athletic department prioritized their mental health.
theSkimm
Two years after opening up about balancing more than just the beam, Biles is leaping back into competition. A reminder that while the sports world has seen some major wins in the mental health arena, there's always more down the field.
Missed the peak of the Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower? Count your lucky stars: On Tuesday, one of the largest full moons will come to a sky near you. And the Perseids are already underway. Plus, if you think the James Webb Space Telescope is out of this world, wait until you get a glimpse of the stellar new telescope NASA is building. It comes as the space agency is investing in projects that could allow humans to live off the (lunar) land.
🧘 In wellness...
Hitting your goals isn't always easy, so consider this your friendly reminder to, ahem, set reminders. If that stresses you out, earthing may help you get grounded. (Apparently, the barefoot boys were a step ahead of us.) Same with listening to what the little birdies are saying.
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Sunday Scaries, Who?
Here's one tip for a better start to your week.
Struggling to finish your to-do list? Try pairing it with a dopamenu — aka, a list of fun activities that boost dopamine, which in turn, helps you to get through the not-so-fun things. As clinical social worker and therapist Melissa Gottlieb explained, dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with "the reward center of your brain," so it can keep you feeling motivated.
Of course, when you're in a rut, thinking of things that'll inspire and energize you can feel like yet another task. In that case, dopamenus "take the challenge out of decision making. They're a shorthand way to refer to [your motivators] quickly," Gottlieb said. Now, to make your own menu, think of the one at your favorite restaurant. Meaning...
Appetizers: Just like small dishes or starters, these should be "quick things that can help you refocus, like hugging your dog, going for a [short] walk, or grabbing a coffee," Gottlieb said.
Entrées: Here, think bigger. Tap into a list of "activities that take a little longer, but may also give you more dopamine, energy, and motivation to work toward that longer term goal," Gottlieb explained. That could be meeting a friend for lunch, doing something crafty, or reading a page-turner.
Sides: This is where you can really get creative. That's because sides can be "built into an activity you're already doing," Gottlieb said. For example, only watching your guilty pleasure TV show at the gym. "That way, you're [attaching] a reward with exercising," she explained, which can help build a habit. Other food for thought? Listening to music while cleaning or calling a friend while folding laundry.
...Oh and if you're worried about having too much fun (as in, you never make it back to your chores), Gottlieb had a suggestion: "Put on a timer. Say to yourself, 'I'm going to go for a walk. It's going to be 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, I'm coming home and doing this task.'"
Save the Date
Like ours, your work and personal calendars are probably hectic. So here are some events you should know about...
The USWNT faces off against Portugal in its final World Cup group-stage match. Can they kick it? Yes, they can.
Billie Eilish and Karol G take the stage at Lollapalooza. Don't forget your mini fan.
PS: Want more events like this on your cal? theSkimm App gives you a heads-up on when everything from holidays to sports games to awards shows are going down. Download it here.
News Quiz
Stumped by our news quiz yesterday? Here's the answer.
