Energy is almost all you need
And just because something sounds simple, doesn’t mean it's easy. Plus my report from across the ditch.
Thanks to everyone who commented on last week’s blog.
Particularly those of you who pushed back and challenged what I said, as your insights help me broaden my understanding.
And while it’s not perfect, I still think looking at health in terms of how much energy you have is the most practical way to manage physical and mental health.
I try to communicate as simply as possible.
There’s so much noise online that if I’m using complex words trying to sound smart and not being succinct, people won’t understand what I’m trying to say and switch off.
And I want people to read my writing because I think my story can help.
But communicating simply and sharing an idea in the least amount of words possible is bloody hard.
It also leaves you open to being misunderstood.
And I understand people who have strong opinions about mental health may find simplifying it offensive.
But just because something can be explained simply, does not mean taking action to improve it is easy.
In fact it’s quite the opposite because my message of doing things that give me energy to improve mental health means doing the basics well (sleep, nutrition, exercise, community etc).
Which is very hard because doing them is boring.
And according to my boy ChatGPT, that’s because:
Doing the basics in life often feels mundane to many, as it involves routine and repetition. Whereas quick fixes and fads provide a stimulating and immediate sense of excitement or novelty, making them more appealing to those seeking instant gratification.
Anyways, sorry if I offended you.
But I stand by what I said, and believe the mental health crisis will continue until a simple answer can be found.
Going forward, my blog is going to focus on the concept of personal energy and how it impacts health.
Plus a few sidetracks every now and then to things that give me energy like Rugby,
, the Dock, and my start-up Alfred.But when I do write about how our energy levels influence day-to-day life, I’m keen for this to be more of a discussion.
I learned so much from last week’s comments, and I’m keen for that to continue.
So many people are suffering unnecessarily with their mental health because there’s this supposed mystery around it.
And the only way for us to remove the mystery is to have more open discussions like we did last week.
Discussions where we share what helped us bounce back from a dark place, and find the things that worked that we all have in common.
And for me, what helped me most was looking at health in terms of energy.
Yes, psychologists and medications absolutely have a place in recovery (I used both).
And yes, energy is not everything.
But as Joe said last week, focusing on your energy is the 20% of effort that will get you 80% of the results towards feeling great.
And once I was feeling better, I could start the hard work of dealing with the deep seeded issues I had that led me into the situation that made me depressed.
But I just couldn’t bring myself to face them when I was tired, and thank you so much to Trudie for her honesty when she shared that she struggles in the same way.
Anyways, enough from me. But I’d love to know what you think.
Stop reading if you’re not a Rugby fan
The Dock Does Dunedin
I was in Dunedin on the weekend for the 2nd Wallabies-All Blacks test.
It was our 2nd trip to NZ, and when we opened the Dock, I never thought I’d get the opportunity to head overseas to watch games.
I grew up loving Rugby, but there was a point in my career where I fell out of love with it.
But that love is back, and can’t wait to head to Paris in a couple of months for the Rugby World Cup!
We’ve got a group of 100+ going for both semis and final, and with the improvements the Wallabies are showing (plus some luck with the draw) I reckon they’ll still be alive when we get there.
Anyways, here’s a quick recap of the trip:
Highlights:
The game. Saw a lot of improvements from the Wallabies, and after chatting with a few squad members, I sense they genuinely believe they can turn things around. Just how far is anyone’s guess, but you’d have to be a brave man or woman to bet against Eddie Jones.
Caught up with old friends, including the referee and housemate Karl Dickson. Dicko and I lived together nearly 20 years ago, but have stayed in touch, and we caught up with another teammate from my time in England. So great to see them both, and thought Dicko reffed well. Very proud.
The Stadium. One of the great indoor stadiums of world sport, and would love to see something similar in Canberra.
Arvo footy. The 2:30pm kick-off was awesome. Great time for families.
Getting to chat about Rugby. Something I rarely get to do anymore, and I’m always blown away by the Rugby IQ of the public there.
Taste testing a Speights Ale House.
Dunedin parkrun. Love how no matter where I am in the world, I can get some community exercise in first thing on a Saturday morning. Beautiful course thru the botanic gardens, and made the beers taste that little bit better.
Lowlights:
That last kick. Sadly it felt inevitable as I was having flashbacks the whole second half from the 2017 test where NZ scored on the bell to win.
The crowd booing Quade Cooper for something that happened 10 years ago. Come on NZ. Get over it.
Cracked my iPhone 😩
Getting sledged “4 more beers” during a 2nd half beer run. A witty reply to George Gregan’s infamous “4 more years” sledge. Made me laugh and perhaps should be remembered as a highlight?
How good was Tom Hooper!!
Booing doesn't belong in sport full stop, just don't do it, ever. The referee of the Matildas game called a goal kick when it should have been a corner but you didn't have anyone booing, people questioned the call "how could you not see that", the players tried to challenge the call, but nobody booed.
Story sharing and vulnerability are the way towards better mental health. Deep connection is the way to go, but people are afraid of it.
Thanks Benny for the thoughtful addendum. It’s hard to understand how mental health effects other people without a Freaky Friday style swap... We can only really speak from our own experiences and listen to other’s experiences with an open mind.