As we enter yet another summer, I find myself once again working to make the development of mental skills a relevant task for many clients. All too often, people do not reach out until they find themselves frustrated with how things are going, or when they have hit a wall. However, working on mental skills during the off-season (which is what summer is for so many) is a great way to prepare for when things will get tough during the season.
As an attempt at a humorous analogy, lets talk about that fundamental need we all experience on a nearly daily basis, but occassionaly find ourselves in a not so ideal circumstance. The sudden urge to use the toilet for the ole #2. Admittedly we all have the same need, so lets further imagine three scenes in which we have experienced this; at home, in public, and in the woods. In a sense, all are times and places where the moment hits you. The act and needs are similar. However, the requirements in performing the act change because of the context of the environment.
Just as in competition, the goal across situations is the same, but with unique aspects. At home and in the woods, the goal is simply to feel relief. Yet at home there is a higher standard of privacy and comfort we expect. We know where to go, where certain items are located, and we can operate nearly on autopilot (the fabled muscle-memory). In the woods, our standards and expectations for privacy are lowered, and we feel the stress of carrying the necessary items with us, and making sure things don’t roll away from us and get out of reach. Things change again in public. We still want relief, and our standard of privacy has shifted to a place where we hope to have some dignity as we perform the task.
Likewise, in each environment we have the same needs. A place to perform the act with the correct body position, tools such as paper and water for cleanliness, and a means for disposing the waste product of what we have done. But once again, the context creates unique ways for us to adapt. If you’ve read this far, you have likely experienced that dreaded “no paper” moment. Your expectations have plummeted, your anxiety goes up, and emotions may escalate out of fear and embarrassment. At home, this is easily remedied by a new roll within reach, or at worst with a little help from someone else in the house. In a public restroom or in the woods, you may have to adapt, be creative, or compromise. Such responses may include resorting to asking a stranger for help, using a gasket paper in stead, or soiling and disposing of an undergarment. Or perhaps the boy-scout in you was already prepared for bad situations and you had made emergency plans before committing to action.
And for each of these situations, you may become distracted by things that pull your focus off-task. In the woods, you may have gotten past the awkwardness of being in such an unfamiliar position. However, the beauty of the landscape may pull your focus, perhaps leading to poor aim. In a public facility, you may feel the pressure of someone waiting for you, a stall neighbor chatting on the phone during a private moment, or filth and graffiti all around in your private cocoon. These “threats” to your focus may leave you hurrying and not finishing the job. And even in the comfort of home, you may find yourself distracted by unintended instances. The knock at the door, your doorbell ringing, or that awkward time when guests are over. Yep, even when it should be easiest to take care of your business, distractions can happen.
Why do I take the time to elaborate on a personal experience (we all have) as an analogy to sports and performance? Because at any given time, the “Oh Sh*t Moment” can happen. And being prepared can help us adapt as needed. Whether we are in a comfortable and low stress situation we have done thousands of times, or if we find ourselves in unique situations of greater difficulty, each has the potential to present stressors that interfere with meeting our goals and needs. And there are two basic ways to prepare. The first is to plan for situations we anticipate; to organize materials we will need, and perhaps practicing and training for such situations (if you have ever traveled to a third world country, you know how real this can be). The second means of preparing is to develop mental skills that promote self-control and resilience.
Just like the need to find bodily relief, competition and performance can have situations you either haven’t or couldn’t have prepared for. But you do have the ability to develop an ability to manage your emotional arousal. Working on mental skills can also include learning how to refocus, and how to re-prioritize needs. High level performance also requires learning to have versatility in thinking, to be able to find new solutions within your situation. Similarly, mental skills help to promote the ability to make adjustments and change the game-plan, realizing that what you prepared to do won’t work and a new approach is required.
As I noted at the start, the off-season is a great time to work on developing mental skills. Waiting until things are not going well may be too late, or can mean only reaching a limited change. But working on developing a toolbox of abilities when the stresses of competition are lower can pay off more in the long run. As we all know, the “Oh Sh*t Moment” can happen whether or not we are ready. Developing mental skills during the off-season is a great way to be ready for the unexpected developments you will have when competition comes around again. Should you find yourself needing more help in this area, why wait? Make the call, bring in an expert.