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Skateboarding Is Good For Your Mental Health

06Jun
Green KeyWorklife


Stickers declaring “Skateboarding is not a crime” show up almost everywhere there are signs saying skateboarding prohibited or forbidden or something similar. It’s skateboarders way of protest.

Now, a study out of the University of Southern California could add “Skateboarding is good for your mental health” and “Skateboarding encourages diversity” and a few others promoting the new found positive effects of the sport.

“Our research shows that through skateboarding, skaters develop the ability to communicate and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds,” said Neftalie William, a co-author of the study published by the university’s Pullias Center for Higher Education.

The Beyond the Board study surveyed over 5,000 skateboarders, most between 13 and 25. The responses included both women and skaters of color. In addition, researchers interviewed 120 skaters and stakeholders in seven cities across the US discovering skateboarding has benefits at odds with the stereotype of skaters.

According to the study, researchers found:

Skateboarding improves mental health – The vast majority of skaters surveyed indicated they skateboard for fun and/or to relieve stress.

Skateboarding and skateparks facilitate a sense of community among skaters – Skateboarders reported the value of connecting with people who share similar passions in skateparks, skate shops, and at skating events.

Skateboarding encourages resilience – The nature of skateboarding requires skaters to learn on their own and develop their own strategies to succeed Skaters frequently perform a trick hundreds of times over long periods before developing proficiency or experiencing reward for the efforts. Skaters in the study reported that they apply these lessons of resilience to their lives outside of skateboarding.

Gender and race matter – The study also showed that skaters of color felt a greater degree of safety from judgment within the skateboarding community than in nonskate contexts. Female skaters indicated they believe they are judged by their gender both in and out of skateboarding contexts.

The research was funded by the Tony Hawk Foundation.

Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay

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You Still Need to Be Professional When Working From Home

Experienced work-at-homers know to keep the dog out and the door closed when on a conference call. For video meetings, they know it’s important to present a professional appearance. That may mean dressing as they would in the office. They’re also mindful of what’s in the background that everyone can see.

Now that so many of us are working from home for the first time, it’s too easy to fall into bad habits and neglect to practice the same professionalism we do when surrounded by colleagues. For team leaders it’s important to recognize that managing remote workers in the best of times requires greater understanding and even stronger communication than if everyone were together.

Dianna Booher, a globally recognized expert on business communication, says those new to working from home need to be acutely aware of how they present themselves and how they use their time. While taking a break to have lunch with the family is one thing, Booher warns against falling into the trap of taking extended breaks only to work into the night to catch-up.

“That’s a potentially troublesome habit to adopt if you’ll have to return to actual office hours after the crisis subsides,” Booher cautions. “If you get into the habit of working sporadically over a 24-hour period, you may soon experience the feeling that your work has consumed your life. And it will.”

Another hazard of remote work is the lack of interaction with co-workers that occurs naturally in a physical setting. Feelings of isolation can become common among those working from home, Booher says. To combat that, managers should encourage remote workers to chat as they do when together. Slack is a popular collaboration tool where channels can be created specifically to encourage conversation. Equally important is for managers to reach out to every employee regularly to ask how they are doing.

Video calls are booming, in large part because they help promote connectedness. They also make it possible for people to see presentations and share their work. At the same time, video conferences also make it possible for everyone to see your environment. Booher tells of a vidcaster who was to interview her changing his clothes while she watched. You might never do something like that, but what about the setting you’re in? Does it look professional?

Zoom, one of the most popular video conferencing tools, allows for the use of a virtual background. You can upload a photograph of your own or choose one Zoom offers. You’ll forego the personal feel, but that may be better than showing everyone you’re working in a cluttered garage.

As Booher points out, maintaining a professional appearance and practicing the same good work habits you do in the office will avoid damage to your career and help you resume a normal routine when the crisis is over.

Image by Free-Photos

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