What Olympic Athletes Can Teach Us

سطح پیشرفته

Whether or not you’re training for the 2024 Paris Olympics, adopting some psychological skills used by Olympians can help you maintain focus and motivation in your own life. Whether you want to exercise more or maybe be more productive at home or work — the following techniques can help you adopt an elite mindset. {Play}

1. Goal-setting: Elite athletes often set short-term and long-term goals. Setting “SMART” goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound) can help you achieve those small wins to keep you motivated as you progress towards a greater goal. {Play}

2. Planning: Obtaining a goal can often take considerable time and effort, as we see with athletes preparing for the Olympics. Planning is an important psychological skill that can help you regulate your behavior as you move toward your goals. In addition, creating detailed coping plans will help prepare you for potential challenges that may impede goal attainment. {Play}

3. Positive self-talk: Many athletes engage in reflective practices such as self-talk to help them concentrate on the task at hand. Identifying positive keywords or phrases such as “I can do it” and “I’m almost there” can help redirect your attention and increase motivation to persevere through difficult or challenging situations. {Play}

4. Mental imagery: Before running towards the vault or executing a serve in volleyball, athletes often use mental imagery to visualize their performance. Visualizing the steps needed to perform an action or reach your goal can boost motivation from completing the planned activity. {Play} 

سطح مبتدی

If you are preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics and need motivation and focus in your life, or if you want to be a better person at your home or work, you can use these techniques to improve your attitude. {Play} 

1. Setting your goals: Athletes often set short-term and long-term goals. Setting “SMART” goals can help you achieve those small wins to keep you motivated. {Play}

2. Planning: When you have a goal, you need a plan to help you regulate your behavior as you move toward your goals. {Play}

3. Positive self-talk: Many athletes talk to themselves to help them concentrate better. Phrases like “I can do it” can help increase motivation to keep you motivated. {Play}

4. Mental imagination: Before serving a ball in volleyball, athletes often use mental imagination about the result of their ball. Having this imagination can increase your motivation in your way. {Play}