Mind
Yes your right! It is all in your head
Lack of motivation strikes every athlete at some point. Everyone has their highs and lows. A big difference between a champion and everyone else is that the champion has learned to beat the training blues. The key factor is mental i.e. motivation. It all starts with your head
- Attitude – A positive outlook toward your sessions is essential to progress. You need to remember why you started to train in the first place. Recall your goals and the novelty of the sport. Then try to put that drive and excitement back into your current training routine.
- Cross Training – Variety is an important ingredient in your training. If you are finding training is becoming stale try to spice up your regime by participating in other sports. Choosing activities that complement but do not hamper your training goals will keep you fresh.
- Goal Setting – The most important task of all is setting goals. You must establish what it is you hope to accomplish with your training. This will help you focus your energy and plan a course of action along with your coach to achieve your objectives. A definitive purpose is the key to training motivation and success. It is important that targets are set which are challenging and realistic.
- Intensity – To boost your training, change the intensity level. You can change the intensity of your training sessions by decreasing or increasing your reps, sets and/or weights. The intensity of your workouts can be further altered by manipulating the duration of your workouts, the frequency with which you train in a day and/or in a week, as well as by the rest and recuperation you take between sets and sessions.
- Partners – Other people can influence your motivation tremendously. Try to ensure that your training partner(s) share your level of commitment. In a group situation you should try to ally yourself to those with similar drive and ambition. Ideally you should also have the support and encouragement, both physically and emotionally, of your family to be able to achieve the best results you possibly can.
- Influences – To gain and/or sustain motivation, you have to surround yourself with positive people. Your family and friends should encourage and help you to achieve your goals. Find a role model – whether they are an accomplished person or a struggling individual they can inspire you to attain your goals.
- Rest – To progress and succeed in your training, your body and mind must receive the proper nutrition and rest they require to recover. Over training and/or poor eating habits will drain your motivation very swiftly, not to mention that fact that your body will not be able to perform to it’s normal level.
- Visualization – The ultimate motivation is to envisage what you want to have in the future. If, in a state of relaxation, you can visualise yourself and feel your power, you will strive to achieve that. Also, it can be very helpful to think your way through competition – from warm up to the end of the event doing everything properly and with a variety of different external factors. This will help you be well prepared when it actually comes to compete.
- Focus – To get in the ‘Zone’ as athletes call you need to place your attention on the exercise or muscle set you are engaged in. Image you can actualy see the muscles moving, feel the blood flowing through your body. Be verry deliberate and very cocious of your movements and actions. This will result on your achieving the maximum results from your efforts.