3 Simple Ways Swimmers Can Be Kind to Their Mind
By Mauro Pacsi, Swimming World College Intern
The most important asset to an athlete isn’t what you may think. Yes, having the body in peak condition is important to perform well. However, a great performance is impossible without a strong mind. While swimmers may be regarded as crazy for staring at a black line for hours every day, they do so purposely. Their resolve is strong enough to push forward through repetitions in order to improve. Becoming the best version of themselves in the pool is what they strive for. Yet, there will be circumstances and days where that resolve seems to fade away. Especially in our world surrounded by a global pandemic.
Setbacks and obstacles will surface over and over again. Instances where you feel doubtful and hopeless will occur. The thing is, that’s perfectly okay. These feelings are normal, and everyone experiences them. What is important, however, is knowing how to move past them and get your mind back on the right track. It’s okay to reset and not focus on swimming when you aren’t in the pool. If anything, doing so will allow your mind to look forward to jumping back in. While there are multiple ways to do so, here are a few things I do to relax my mind and reset.
Getting More Sleep
Getting more sleep each night is essential. While asleep, the body can repair itself and the brain can properly process information. However, lack of sleep can not only be a detriment to your well-being but also to your mental health. Through resting, your mind will be able to adjust and process any stress you are facing. With a good night’s rest, it’s easier to wake up and tackle the new challenges of a day. These challenges can range from Getting quality sleep can also improve your overall mood. Waking up and feeling rested can help steer you away from anxious feelings or depressing thoughts. More information on the benefits of sleep can be found here.
Trying Out Meditation
Meditating is a great tool that can be utilized whenever you have free time. It helps grow concentration and self-awareness. In meditation, you are able to evaluate yourself and focus on something that could be positive or negative. For myself, I focus on how I can take something negative, learn from it, and use what I learned in my favor. This is especially useful when hitting a wall in either training or at meets because I use it as constructive criticism. Thinking about ways to improve will take up my attention, thus making it easier to reflect on things I need to change. In a positive aspect, I use meditation to remember why I continue to swim and what motivates me. It’s important to remind yourself of where you came from, where you are now, and what can you do to be better tomorrow. However, while that works for me it could be different for you. More information on the benefits of meditation can be found here.
Finding A New Hobby
When you aren’t in the water it’s important to search for other things you enjoy. In doing so, you can learn more about your personal interests beyond being a swimmer. As much as we love our to practice and race, there are times when it can get on our nerves. So much so that we may our next practice. We want to avoid this feeling because it hurts us more than it helps us. Since our goal is to preserve the well-being of our minds and have longevity in our sport, there are times where we have to step away from it altogether. To put in words that may be easier to understand, Olympic Gold Medalist Adam Peaty of Britain says, “At home we have a rule where we don’t talk about swimming at all.” The reasoning behind this is to learn to have fun and live life when you hang your googles up for the day. Finding other hobbies that interest you gives your mind something new to handle. There are plenty out there from reading a book to playing video games. Something is out there just waiting for you to find it.