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Five Mental Training Tips for Athletes 2015

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Five Mental Training Tips for Athletes

These five mental training tips can truly change your game. Many mental skills are common sense but the difference for some is practice and putting the tips into some type of daily practice. This is the challenge I give you for 2015. Read the tips and practice them.

notebook TIP 1. Set mental goals! It’s a new year so it makes sense to make this training tip number one. I like what Jim Afremow says about goals: Think it than ink it. When you write it you are more likely to achieve it. You may want to look at the book, Write It Down Make It Happen.

TIP 2. Seriously commit to having helpful self talk in your mind. Engage more in instructional talk than critical talk. As Willie Mays says: “What you’re thinking, what shape your mind is in, is what makes the biggest difference of all.” Talk yourself through motions rather than analyze too much. Have a key phrase you write everyday to help set your mind. Try this one: “Stay focused, stay strong.” Then practice it, see training tip 3.

TIP 3. Mentally practice like you physically practice. Practice mental skills throughout the day. A good mental tool to practice is focus. You can easily do mental check-ins throughout the day. Is your mind where your body is? If you are working is your mind on the project? If you are driving are you mentally present with driving? These are great ways to practice focus and being in the moment.

TIP 4. New Mindset New Results

New Mindset New Results

Have a routine but with a flexible mindset. You are more likely to keep doing your mental tools if you build them into your daily routine. A habit is nothing more than doing the same thing over and over. The key is the mental flexibility to know when you truly need to shift something for a day and when to commit and simply do it. Take a look at the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. My 10 minute daily meditation is one training tool I try to commit to everyday.

TIP 5. Knowledge Empowers You (KEY)! This is the KEY to your success. Keep notes about your training and competition. What is happening when you are successful or in the flow? Learn if you are thinking or bringing certain images to mind to help. Be your own little scientist and apply your findings!

If you practice one mental training tool this is IT! Buy a notebook and get started today.

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Dr. Kris Eiring

About Dr. Kris Eiring

I was introduced to sport psychology when I was competing for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Track and Field Teams. I believe that it was the combination of my physical training along with some mental training that helped me to compete at the Division I level and be part of an amazing team that won multiple Big 10 championships.

Today, I am a licensed psychologist in the state of Wisconsin and I work with athletes of all levels to help them achieve their goals. There is more to the mental side of training and competing than simply being mentally tough. You also need to be mentally smart. My work is no substitute for a sound physical training program but it is an important element in giving athletes the edge they might need to excel and reach their potential.

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