Mental skills and performance coach Dr Kylie Wilson has advice for everyone in the latest episode of The Little Things. Photo / Supplied
When the Warriors run out against Penrith, or the Black Ferns line up at the World Cup, their greatest challenge isn’t just physical. It’s also mental.
According to mental skills and performance coach Dr Kylie Wilson, the same tools she teaches elite athletes can help the rest of us in everyday life.
With a PhD in performance psychology, Wilson has worked with some of New Zealand’s top teams, including the Silver Ferns, Auckland Blues, Black Ferns Sevens and the Warriors. She’s also worked with Olympians Luka Jones and Finn Butcher.
Speaking to Louise Ayrey and Francesca Rudkin on this week’s episode of the Herald’s health and wellbeing podcast The Little Things, Wilson says one of her best tips for dealing with pressure is learning to separate the facts from the stories we tell ourselves about them.
A method the Warriors will no doubt employ as they face the Penrith Panthers in Saturday’s NRL knockout game.
“Penrith have won more times than us. It’s a fact. The stories become ‘are we good enough to beat them?’ and ‘what are people going to think?’”
Wilson says recognising these negative thought patterns as stories, not facts, gives us the opportunity to change the narrative and ease the pressure.
“There are always going to be stories, but how can you perhaps make them work for you a little bit versus against you?”
So how does this help those of us who aren’t chasing medals? Wilson says the same mental skills apply to boardroom presentations, first dates or navigating bedtime battles.
“Make sure you’re acting as the bouncer and you only want the cool kids in the club, you know, like the good stories, the helpful stories.”
Listen to the full episode of The Little Things for more helpful tips from Dr Kylie Wilson.
The Little Things is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. The series is hosted by broadcaster Francesca Rudkin and health researcher Louise Ayrey.
New episodes are available every Saturday.