Team Up with California Prunes

Expert Advice

Emotions are your superpower: Use them to excel during COVID-19

By Dr. Adrienne Toogood, Registered Sport Psychologist

“An emotional fitness check, that is, paying attention to our emotions, is as important as physical fitness. It’s not one or the other – it’s committing to both. Athletes know and apply this. You should, too.”

During this time of slowing down, the world is realizing that regardless of the level in which we compete, there is a human behind the performance. And you are no different. As you work to stay healthy and well at this time, remember to embrace your humanity in order to thrive.

Be Kind

Things are different now, and people are struggling to learn many new things at once, including how to weave fitness and healthy eating into their lives. We are going to make mistakes, and as we establish the habits that keep us emotionally and physically well, it is important we are patient with ourselves. Kristin Neff has several free resources on her website that help us to take a step back and ask ourselves “what do I need right now?”

Be Honest

An important aspect of being human is emotion—and in times like this, we tend to activate stronger emotions, which is expected. Emotions are what make us unique. If we are not comfortable with them, we will find ourselves in a difficult place. Due to the pandemic, athletes have had competitions cancelled, kids may no longer be at school, and for those who are, it may look a little different. And for all of us, we may have lost time doing things we love to do, and spending time with the people we love. If we want to stay well and thrive, it is important that we start to unpack our emotions. This can be done through a tool that Marc Brackett has created called RULER. He provided us with this tool to help us recognize, understand, label, express and regulate the emotions we experience. Let’s learn from him and add pockets of time into our day where we breathe and check-in. If we notice what emotions we are experiencing and let ourselves feel them, we will stay well.

Be Agile

Susan David developed a concept called emotional agility. She reminds us that no emotions are bad. She encourages us to use the phrase “I am feeling,” rather than “I am,” in order to provide us with space between ourselves and our emotions. She asks us to be curious and compassionate when we experience emotion, and to recognize that when we experience stronger ones, perhaps it is because it is something important for us and an area that is connected to our core values. So, during COVID-19, as we experience emotion on the path to staying well; let’s take time to be curious and compassionate about what we are feeling.

Be Open

Kelly McGonigal talks to us about stress and the impact it has on our physical and emotional well-being. She has us re-considering our relationship with stress. What if we recognize that when we feel stress and anxiety, it is our body’s way of helping us to perform and excel. What if our perspective changes? How will that help us stay well during this time?

Be Empathic

Bréné Brown talks about empathy, and reminds us that “empathy is not rushing to turn the lights on, but having the courage to sit in the dark with someone.” As we figure out how to navigate and stay well during this time, imagine if we had the courage to sit in those moments with not only each other, but also ourselves.

Be Healthy with California Prunes

Stress and anxiety can also negatively affect our health if they are not managed. If we do not unpack and recognize our emotions, this can in turn influence our food choices and habits. By recognizing our emotions, we can start to unpack the food choices we make and be more compassionate towards the choices that we make.

It is okay to eat comfort food during these hard times, but just because we are eating comfort food doesn’t mean that it has to be unhealthy. California Prunes is a healthy food that is packed with nutrients, like fibre and antioxidants, that can help our mental health, in addition to our physical health. Prunes contain antioxidants and support our gut health, which can reduce negative effects that stress and anxiety produce in our body. Take time to notice how you feel after eating certain types of snacks. California Prunes are a versatile snack that can be incorporated into a number of recipes, which can be viewed here. They can be incorporated into baked goods, enjoyed on their own, or in a number of meals.

Select podcasts Dr. Toogood recommends to stay well and thrive during this time:

Take time to view her new podcast series Heroes in Our Midst which is a podcast about the power inside the heart, the human behind the story, and the collection of idiosyncrasies that both make us unique and bond us together through a common humanity.

Dr. Adrienne Toogood
Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood has spent the last three decades competing and consulting at the highest levels of sport. Adrienne is a licensed psychologist and adjunct faculty at the University of Manitoba. She has extensive experience working with athletes in both Canada and the United States at all levels of performance. Dr. Toogood’s clients have ranged from individual Olympic athletes, teams and coaches, to PGA Tour winners, Grey Cup Champions, and World Champions. She is currently the Director of Sport Psychology at the Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba and has extensive experience with other performers including air traffic controllers, RCMP emergency response team members, corporate executives, firefighters, and emergency medical doctors. She believes in empowering people to embrace their humanity so they are able to elevate their performance. Her personal mission statement is “passion, commitment and intensity unleash a new freedom of an energetic, balanced and holistic person who is healthy for life”.