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Returning to work after injury as a ski instructor. The impact injury has on instructor mental health.
As instructors working up the mountain 200+ days a year, year on year, we are living a dream. We get to spend time in incredible natural environments; we get to ski or ride all the time; we meet like-minded people; we get fit and learn new things all the time; and we spend our time doing more of the things we love, and less of the things we don’t. It may be a dream, but being in an extreme environment, and teaching a difficult sport means there is a riskier side to the career too. What impact does injury have on the instructor's mental health and what can you do to give yourself the best chance of physical and mental success in recovery?
Contents:
Lifestyle choices you can make to prevent injury
Since we are on the mountain skiing so much in various conditions, we as ski and snowboard instructors are at a larger risk of personal injury. There are lots of things you can do to prevent injury.
Pushing yourself to learn new tricks, go harder, and stay out for longer days can put stress on your body which leads to injury. One of the most challenging times in a ski season is if you get injured. Incury can mean being stuck inside, not able to go out skiing or riding with friends and this can lead to you feeling very low and de-motivated. The most important thing to do is listen to your body; if you feel a niggle here or ache there, have a day off or go easy at least.
One of the best things about working ski seasons is that work, skiing, and socializing are so much fun. Ski resorts generally have it all, but that doesn’t mean you constantly have to do it all! Instructors often talk about burning the candle at both ends ( doing too much of everything), and it will lead to burnout which is a horrible sense of being overwhelmed to the point of inaction. It’s terrible for your motivation, and stress levels and can exacerbate any underlying mental health issues. Choose your priorities and don’t be afraid to say no so that you can say yes to the things that will make you feel your best.
For more advice on injury prevention, visit this article. Tips for early season injury prevention.
How does an injury affect the life of a ski instructor?
Even if you do your best to prevent burnout, it is still possible for accidents to happen. It’s important therefore to have insurance, get the appropriate medical care straight away, and commit to long-term physio and rehab. I’m not just talking about physical rehab either. Don’t neglect your mental health in the process. Injury for ski instructors means huge change. It quite literally changes our livelihood. It may mean you’re unable to work and earn money, it could mean the end of the season and a flight home to a less than ideal living situation with family. It is so important to prioritize mental health to achieve successful recovery and restore overall well-being.
The Psychological trauma experienced after a severe injury from an accident often gets overshadowed by the urgency of treating physical injuries. Unresolved emotional trauma from a serious accident can profoundly impact your ability to function as you could before the accident.
After an injury, we ask ourselves what can I do to get back to where I was before the accident? Especially for those of us who bring this momentum into exams; we want to know how we can surpass our previous progress. To do so, we also have to heal our emotional trauma from the accident.
A link to more information on the impact of injuries on mental health
I have been introduced to a helpful guide that looks deeper into the impact of injuries, and how to prioritize mental health to achieve a successful recovery and restore overall well-being. You can find the guide here at: Lanierlawfirm.com/mental-health-after-injury/ .
All ski schools should offer staff councelling and injury prevention training
We are really lucky at NZski as staff, to have access to both free and paid counseling services as well as a network of people who can put you in touch with the right professionals for your individual mental health needs post-injury. I strongly believe that this should be a standard practice in all ski schools and I’m disappointed to say that many ski schools encourage personal mental health practices but don’t offer free or discounted counseling and/or mental health help services. If you need to speak to someone post-injury and your ski school doesn’t offer in-company counseling, while there is so much information online, I also recommend speaking to your local physio as they often have great injury counselors you can arrange to speak with.
Overall, ski seasons help make you a happier, more confident, fitter, and more accomplished person. There are abundant mental health benefits from being in nature, doing a sport you love, and spending time with like-minded people. Some people feel that living in the mountains is an escape that soothes their soul, others find that the constant ski/work/party flow of a season is what they need to energize them. For some, the ski season experience is life-changing, for other people it may just be a temporary, light relief. If you’re worried about the impact of a ski season on your mental health, speak to someone who has previously done a season. Beyond that, consider speaking to a counselor, therapist, or doctor for further advice.
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