Football and fantasy leagues are supposed to be fun, but let’s be honest: one bad play, and suddenly your day is ruined. Whether it’s a blown call, your team losing, or your fantasy lineup tanking, it’s easy to spiral. Today’s challenge? Keep calm and remind yourself: you’re not getting paid for this.
The Cringy Version
“Practice mindfulness by releasing negative energy and focusing on gratitude for the joy of the game.”
Okay, but when your fantasy RB fumbles on the one-yard line, or your kicker in real life AND fantasy misses 4 times, gratitude isn’t exactly what comes to mind.
The Self Loathe Club Twist
When you feel the rage bubbling up, here’s what to do:
- Pause for 10 Seconds: Before you throw your remote or text your league trash talk, stop and remind yourself of this: “No one cares if I win. Not even me.”
- Redirect Your Energy: Clap your hands, shake it out, or grumble something like, “Of course, this happens to me.” Get it out without going nuclear.
- Laugh It Off: Because seriously, the only thing at stake is your pride—and let’s face it, that’s long gone.
Why This Works
Football is just a game, but it’s also a great chance to practice staying cool under pressure. Learning to reset your emotions in the moment helps:
- Keep Perspective: No one’s going to remember that blown call in two days (except maybe you).
- Build Emotional Control: If you can survive fantasy football, you can survive anything.
- Make It Fun Again: Less raging at the TV, more actually enjoying the game.
My Takeaway
Today, I focused on staying calm and letting the little things go. It wasn’t easy, but every time I caught myself spiraling, I muttered, “This is fine. My life already sucks anyway.” Honestly? It worked. The game was a little more fun, and my TV survived another Sunday.
How do you keep calm when your fantasy lineup crumbles? Let me know. Or don’t—I get it.
Embrace Your Weird,
Nick
Founder of Self Loathe Club
