Surviving a bad rugby season

Is there anything more fist-clenchingly annoying than someone whining: ‘Why are you so upset, it’s just a game?’

It’s rugby season, and to state the obvious, there will be winners and losers. The desire to win is largely societal, but it also seems to be inbuilt.

If research findings could be described as ‘adorable’, then developmental psychologist Susan Harter found that ‘in the very young child, one typically encounters a fantasied self, possessing a staggering array of abilities, virtues, and talents. Our preschool subjects, for example, gave fantastic accounts of their running and climbing capabilities … fully 50 per cent of them describe themselves as the fastest runner in their peer group.’

Apparently it’s all down to those brain chemicals—when we win we get a rush of feel-good dopamine. It’s not just a game. (Well, yes it is, but emotionally …). Studies have even shown that people who ‘win’ live longer, while people who lose tend to get fat. Great.

When we’re young and a game of Monopoly goes wrong, we’re likely to go Godzilla on those little houses. But it’s obviously not okay to go Godzilla when your rugby team doesn’t deliver. So here are some tips for surviving a bad season this year:

Remember what your mama told you: That is, unless she was one of those crazies yelling at you from the sideline. One of life’s important lessons is to lose graciously, and our self-esteem doesn’t need to depend on always being first.

Don’t take out your frustration on the family pet: Instead, maybe hash it out on an online forum with other long-suffering fans.  

Don’t eat all the pies: Research has shown that when your team loses, you’re more likely to eat fatty food. Duh. It’s called comfort eating. But just don’t do anything you’ll regret—whatever your poison.

Get off the couch: You can’t control the outcome of a match, but you can control personal goals, such as your fitness. Making your own goals off the field, means that winning on the field doesn’t have to mean so much.

And if all else fails … watch cat videos online. That’s dopamine right there.