Richmond captain Trent Cotchin reveals what he does to look after his mind
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin believes it’s more important than ever to be mindfully aware. Here’s what he does to help his mental health.
Confidential
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Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has revealed his mindful focus while away with his family in the Queensland hub.
As the only Tiger there with children, the father of three, says he’s found unique ways to care for himself during difficult times.
“One of the biggest things nowadays is our phones are forever pulling our focus away from what’s really important,’’ Cotchin said.
“I’ve actually been conscious while up here to just put the phone away. While we’ve been stuck inside the fence it’s more about being engaged rather than worrying what’s going on in the world.
“For me it’s also breathing, and finding a nice place on the grass at the trees.
“It sounds really corny but I love to connect with nature and listen to the sound of the birds and the trees.
“We’re not quite close enough to the beach but when you get there the opportunity to listen to the waves crashing and so forth. I find that really soothing to connect back to mother nature.”
Cotchin is with wife Brooke, daughters Harper and Mackenzie and son Parker, who turned one on Monday.
He acknowledges that mental health is a high concern for all away from home.
He recently took part in Mindful Month with Smiling Mind, supported by Panadol, which encouraged Aussies to develop a mindfulness practice over a 30 day period.
Among the findings of the Panadol Rethink Care Study is that 45% of Aussies feel their overall wellbeing has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
“We’ve got 32 or 34 players up here that have a number of different circumstances,’’ Cotchin said.
“We have to make sure we are giving people the permission to have the conversations and effectively that it’s OK to have days where you don’t feel quite at your best.
“But also then coming back to what’s really important and a state of mind where you feel better rather than worse.
“That relates to on field as well. It’s hard to be physically at your best when mentally you’re not at your best.”