As I write this article I am digesting the amazing Patriots
comeback in the Super Bowl. From an
athletic and performance stand point it was one of the greatest performances
ever. Not just Tom Brady, but the entire
team. This team has shown incredible
focus and mental toughness on the field.
Here are some tips or exercises for improving focus and mental
toughness.
Visualization: perform the event before the actual
event. If you are about to attempt a PR
(personal record) deadlift, step back and go through the steps of doing the
lift, and see yourself successfully performing the lift. In some cases, your body will feel as though
it has already completed the event.
Meditation: like visualization, but you will be attempting
to clear the mind of extraneous thoughts to mentally prepare you for the
upcoming event.
Breathwork: Having a strong breathing practice will help all
focus and mental toughness work. Strong
breathwork will assist your visualization and meditation practice and help
control your heartrate during times of exertion.
Experience Discomfort:
the legendary coach John Wooden always wanted to make practice so
difficult and physically challenging that games would be easy. It could be as simple as running a little
faster and longer than your race pace/distance, run hard sprints, take shorted
rest interval during workouts. Or one of
my favorites, cold water. Ice baths are
a great way to enjoy discomfort. Since most
cannot regularly utilize ice baths, try using cold water in the shower, try
twenty seconds of cold, followed by 10 seconds of hot for five to ten cycles.
Give some of these a try, they won’t make a navy
seal but may help you handle everyday life a little better.
