Tips From Sports Psychology You Can Use in Everyday Life

Researchers have found that when athletes visualize their sport, they improve. Some studies show basketball players improve their skill as much when they imagine shooting a basketball [academia.edu] as when they physically practice this skill. Visualization can also help non-athletes: you are more likely to accomplish your goals when you visualize yourself achieving them.

Sports psychologists find that emotional largely influences motivation[theconversation.com]. Athletes are the most motivated to practice when there is a high-stakes championship coming up. The emotional push from wanting to win helps (at least in the short-term) to motivate them to work harder. Non-athletes can use this to help them, too. Thinking about how it will feel to accomplish a goal can encourage a person work harder.

For long-term training programs, athletes perform best when they develop a disciplined training schedule. The most important aspects of discipline are consistency and practice [theconversation.com]. Off the field, people are better able to achieve their fitness, health, and other goals by developing a set of habits and sticking to them.

Relaxation seems to boost performance [journals.humankinetics.com]. This may be because when we experience too much emotion — when we're too excited or nervous — we are less able to concentrate. Psychologists find that when athletes relax before an important performance, they do better. The lesson for non-athletes, here, is that relaxation could help improve performance on important tasks. Before you give a work presentation or do an interview for the job you want, take a few minutes to breathe deeply and relax.

Research suggests athletes' thoughts affect their performance. That is why sports psychologists often suggest that athletes include positive self-talk in their training regimens [journals.humankinetics.com]. Non-athletes can use this technique, too. Rather than listening to your inner critic, give yourself a positive pep talk. Reinforce that you're capable of accomplishing a task and that the challenges you face are possible to overcome.

For athletes to perform well, they have to focus on the present moment [journals.humankinetics.com], and this is something anyone can practice. Coaches and psychologists improve their team's ability focus by engaging them in mindfulness activities and meditation. This can help outside of sports, too. Mindfulness or meditation can help improve focus, which is useful in the workplace, at university, and in the gym.

Setting realistic, measurable, and time-bound goals is one of the most important steps toward accomplishing difficult tasks. The sports psychology field has lots of research on how setting effective goals [journals.humankinetics.com] contributes to an athlete's success. This is the same for non-athletes. To be successful, whether it's at work, at school, or in another context, it is important to develop clear goals.

Adequate nutrition is essential in athletics [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov], but it is just as important in everyday life. Eating well helps a person to have more energy, think more creatively, and stay focused. A poor diet can impact mental health and make us less motivated to accomplish our goals. Balanced eating that incorporates lots of fruits and vegetables is critical for supporting high performance.

Sleep is just as important as diet when it comes to well-being, and it greatly impacts how we perform [journals.humankinetics.com]. A lack of sleep makes a person irritable, unable to concentrate, and reduces the ability to solve problems. To function properly, psychologists recommend sleeping for at least 8 hours every night.

Psychologists emphasize how important our social networks are to our mental well-being and our health. In the same way that good relationships with team members [tandfonline.com] impact athletic performance, good relationships with friends and family can enhance overall performance. Building and maintaining close relationships can go a long way toward supporting our health and well-being.