The elite mindset:

Why small acts beat

grand gestures every time

Let’ s be honest, the“ New year, new me” energy is great until about January 14 th. By February, most of those ambitious resolutions have hit a wall. But if you look at how elite athletes actually operate, it’ s not about those big, flashy moments. It’ s about a messy, honest, and surprisingly chill cycle of working hard and resting even harder.

To find out how to stay motivated until December, we chatted with Dr Kirsten van Heerden, one of South Africa’ s leading sports psychologists. As a former elite swimmer who represented South Africa on the international stage, Kirsten understands the high-pressure grind of performance from the inside out.

Whether you’ re an aspiring pro or a weekend warrior, Kirsten’ s advice focuses on shifting from perfection to consistency.

12 www. modernathlete. co. za