Especially not if you are aiming to
WIN. Because I can promise you,
your competition will NOT be doing
that. They will not miss a meal or a
macro, they will not skip a workout
and you can bet you will hear them
saying NO to functions and
gatherings in order to be able to
feel, live and breath their sport,
until their competition date
arrives.
This is however where sports can
become dangerous for one's
mental health.
We reside in a society in which
value is placed on the concept of
balance. Meanwhile many athletes
take themselves to extreme places
in order to compete, especially if
they are looking for longevity
within their sport. Athletes have
little understanding of, or ability to
regain a concept of “balance” postseason,
and for sure not at all inseason.
Balance would not enable
them to perform at the level they
need to perform at.
During the OFF season many
athletes struggle with the concept
of understanding how to go back to
a life that is not as extreme as it
was while they were inseason.
There is really no form of
balance in their lives during prep,
they have difficulty figuring out
how to re-establish themselves in
everyday life, without a
competition date in mind or
without a plan to follow.
This can lead to the mental
deterioration of an athlete who
starts to feel a sense of emptiness,
a feeling of being lost or lack of
focus. Many athletes find
themselves in a place that has been
labeled as ‘post-competition
blues”.
I am an athlete, so what do I do?
My challenge for athletes is to
work on their mindset while in and
off season.
Remind yourself of your
goal, the actions you
need to complete daily in
order to achieve this
goal, but also remind
yourself that this is a
competition and offseason
is just around the
corner. Do not lose
touch with yourself while
in prep.