Sure, our daily lives aren’t all about gold and winning. But we can learn some tricks from great athletes, and you don’t have to be an athlete to do it.
Top athletes are under tremendous pressure to perform, especially now in the Olympic Games. Sports psychology shows that it is not just physical, but also Mental strength is also a crucial success factor. Not everyone works by the motto “pressure is pleasure” like German athlete Lisa Mayer. But there are quite a few. Tricks from the best sportswhich we can use to improve our mental strength and Improve flexibility in daily life.
1. Concentration and mindfulness exercises
Sports psychologist Ross Flowers recommends simple tricks like these: Save app icons to your phoneTo sharpen your attention: Hold it for ten seconds, then write it down. This helps you focus on what you're going to do, he told CNET.
Mindfulness is also helpful:Mindfulness meditation “Exercise trains meta-attention, narrow focus, and endurance,” explains Mark Aoyagi, professor of sport and performance psychology at the University of Denver. In the same blog post, he advises: Start with short daily exercises, even if it's just one minute.
2. Instead of pressuring to be calm: Reinterpret fear productively.
“Yes, there is. He is afraidwhen there is a lot at stake. This feeling will not go away if you judge it and fight it, so start allowing it”“Moments when performance matters are often chaotic. Once you understand that, fear becomes almost normal,” says sports psychologist Sean McCann in the US edition of Men’s Health.
This can be reinterpreted: According to a Harvard study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, athletes who were afraid of an important performance performed better when they were afraid. Redefine emotions positively as “excitement.”
In a similar way, you can also use other terms in everyday life: “intense” and “electrifying” This way, you remove the negative evaluation and pressure. And this, according to the expert in men's health, helps you push yourself forward to overcome the challenge that awaits you.
3. Take breaks to fuel up and rejuvenate.
In the past, mental coach Robert Andrews has worked with multiple Olympic champion Simone Biles, among others. In the same article, he emphasizes that The importance of rest and activities that have meaning to us.Anything that brings joy or meaning – whether it's taking pictures, meeting friends, observing nature, or anything else.
This is important for mental rejuvenation and maintaining your physical fitness. The question “What do you do to fill your tank?” can be crucial not only for athletes: “You have to find something to do outside of work that recharges your batteries.”
4. Routine – Even If It’s Annoying
Cody Commander is a sports psychologist and was the mental health officer for the U.S. team at the 2021 Olympics. He relies on routine and perseverance: “Completing unpleasant tasks every day builds discipline.”We get used to doing necessary tasks all the time.
5. Don't focus on the goal, but on the path to get there.
A medal, a job advancement, a half marathon next year, or some other goal we set for ourselves: Doesn't always work only About achieving victory and being better than others.
Alternatively, the goal can also be subjective, as Gerben Wiersma, national gymnastics coach, told Deutschlandfunk: “For me, it is definitely: 'Citius, Altius, Fortius.'” [dt.: schneller, höher, stärker]. That's also my motto, that I always want to see how we can improve. The important thing is that you… The best version of yourself Displays.
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