Swimming, like sports in general, provides an excellent excuse to talk about mental training. Mastering how to set goals, be resilient and learn how to do your very best will be useful to you not only in sport but in life in general.
This article sets out to focus on certain “mental” techniques that might help you improve not only your swimming performance but also your life outside sport.
First and foremost, learn how to avoid negative self-talk[1]. Easier said than done. How often, when faced with a really tough task, have you heard yourself say: “I cannot do it”; “Impossible”; “I will never be able to do it”. Self-sabotage is the worst way to set about doing something. When this self-harmful internal monologue makes an appearance before some event, try and find alternative ways of dealing with the situation. For example, if you think your goal is too hard, then set yourself another one that is within your reach and more realistically attainable.
Steve Jobs used to say: “Focus is not about saying yes. Focus is about saying no”. Learn to say “no”. “No” to distractions , “no” to a lack of attention, “no” to anything that might distract you from your goal. Do not let your mind wander. Learn not to be distracted by…
