Are You a 24/7 Athlete? Be a Balanced Athlete
“Train, Eat, Sleep, Repeat”… And if you’re a student, Study between.
The phrase has been written on t-shirts, emblazoned on locker room walls and printed on posters.
Many athletes are singularly focused on their sport more with the goal of reaching the pinnacle. The belief of “more is better” can consume some athletes.
But is More Really Better?
Is focusing on your sport 100 percent of the time the most effective path to athletic success?
The reality is that the “Train, Eat, Sleep, Repeat” mindset often does more harm than good.
“Train, Eat, Sleep, Repeat” mentality puts a lot of pressure on athletes.
Athletes that invest most of their time and energies on one pursuit heap excessive demands on themselves.
The “Train, Eat, Sleep, Repeat” mindset is an eggs-all-in-one-basket investment. Competitions become all-or-nothing, success or failure, and that’s a risky proposition.
Think of it in terms of investing money…
You would never dream of taking every penny and everything you own and investing it on one stock, so why would you do the same thing athletically?
The Key to Athletic Success is Having a Balance in your Life
It’s a matter of being 100 percent focused during training and competitions but, also, having a personal life outside of sport.
Having a personal life is a way of recharging your batteries.
One athlete that knows how to maintain balance is WTA tennis player Naomi Osaka…
Osaka is ranked 20th in the world and genuinely enjoys her time on the court. Osaka has a clear goal of being one of the best in the world.
OSAKA: “I know that there are new [players] that are going to come and do good, and of course I want to be one of them. I feel like I’m already one of them.”
Osaka also realizes the importance of down time.
OSAKA: “Tennis is my job, similar to how a normal person has a 9-to-5 job. When I’m off the court, everything relaxes, and I don’t really care that much about what I do or what I say.”
That is prudent advice from a top-ranked athlete.
Balance actually will enhance your game but some athletes find it difficult to turn off their athletic role after leaving the athletic arena.
It is Not Easy to Strike a Balance Between Sport and Life
Many of your personal decisions, such as sleep, diet, staying out late, affect your sports performance.
With the time demands of competing in a sport, you have to schedule many social events around training.
Despite the conflicts, learning some effective balancing strategies will lessen the pressure to perform, keep your passion for competing alive, improve performance and help you develop fully as a person.
Tips for Balancing Sport & Life
- Set the schedule – Map out athletic commitments and set aside time to relax, hang with friends, enjoy hobbies or pursue activities outside of sport.
- Get a hobby – Find something that you love to do, such as music, reading, crafts, etc.
- Leave sports at the arena – When you walk off the court, field, or out of the gym, transition into other roles of your life.
Your new mantra…. “Train, Eat, Relax, Have Fun & Sleep!”
Related Sports Psychology Articles:
- Maintaining an Emotional Balance for Athletes
- Developing a Winning Mindset in Soccer
- How Parents Can Help Sports Kids Stay Safe
Boost Your Self-Confidence With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
Expert mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues in sports with personal coaching. We do mental training with athletes of all levels and ages–about 12 years and up. And mental training is not just for elite or professional athletes.
You can work with us in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone from anywhere in the world. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer
If you are interested in mental coaching, try our free 15-minute introductory session. Contact Peak Performance Sports today with your name, sport, and what mental game challenges you are having.
You can learn more about our mental coaching programs for athletes here.
Dr. Patrick Cohn is an expert mental performance coach who has helped athletes for over 30 years enhance their performance. Dr. Cohn earned a master’s degree in sports psychology from CSUF and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, specializing in Applied Sports Psychology.