If we could summarize the year 2020 so far, “unpredictable” is probably the most accurate word we could use. Aside from the armchair quarterbacks, there was very little indication we would be facing a pandemic, see a world-wide economic recession, and at the same time experience a long overdue reckoning of social equality. Throughout these events, we have also seen sports at the forefront. From initial “shut downs”, to efforts in restarting operations with safety protocols, to a unified voice for inclusion and appreciation of diversity, sport leagues have worked toward a future. And without doubt, this is where so many of you now find yourself; trying to figure out how to manage the unknowns going forward. Or more accurate, questioning why to put effort into preparing for a future that is full of uncertainty.
To begin with, the reality is that our future is always an unknown. Our current predicament in living with the world wide spread of Covid-19, and the potential of becoming severely ill, has made things more complicated for sure. And the barrage of information coming from news sources, social media postings and shares, as well as our own personal experiences of knowing or not knowing others who have become sick has created layers of doubt about what the future may hold. Likewise, a lack of unified leadership on how to respond, coupled with differing opportunities of activity between states or counties has made personal decisions more confusing. And through it all, the natural reaction of the brain is a fear response. Uncertainty is triggers automatic processes at multiple layers of the brain. One of the most common is to “freeze”, or to shut down and wait for the threat to be over. Although this may have worked in extreme cases for our ancient ancestors, it is not a productive response for athletes. Instead, working forward promotes greater resilience.
In our current situation, working forward is about making plans and taking actions with a focus on possibilities. Specifically for sport, this is about preparing and being ready for things to be on schedule. By preparing in this way, we allow ourselves to be ready should things open up, as well as help us develop the ability to be resilient and adapt. This attitude is reflected in a famous phrase of British Special Forces, “Fortune favors the brave.” This doesn’t mean taking brash risks that threaten the safety of yourself and others. Rather, that you must be willing to assess the risks, and take actions that incorporate these risks as elements to plan for as you work toward your goals.
As I noted above, by preparing to be ready to perform despite not knowing when that may come, you promote your own resilience. In particular, you develop mental flexibility and adaptability. Right now, there are rules that prohibit traditional training methods for nearly all sports. And yet, you still have the ability to work on key elements of being an athlete. You can train for fitness and strength by finding creative ways to workout. For sport specific training, you can work on building knowledge through various activities such as the study of video and creative play design. This is also an opportunity to develop your mental skills by working on focus, improving your visualization, or learning how to use goal setting for things within your control (i.e. fitness, strength, etc). By working on these elements, you develop the ability to readjust to adversities and unexpected events that lurk in your future.
Another benefit in working toward being prepared regardless of the uncertainty in front of us, is that you minimize the potential costs of inaction. Two issues are relevant here. First is the case of injuries. By “freezing” and waiting to be given direction, you increase the likelihood of being injured once things open up. An body that has been in an extended period of rest is much more susceptible to injury when returning to high loads of activity (running, weight lifting, etc). Instead, working on being fit now prepares your body to take on the heavy load of sport activity when things open up. Second, inactivity creates a “tardiness” in physical and mental functions that will make your future learning curve much steeper. However, being physically active makes your body ready for new forms of movement (i.e. sport specific movements), and readies the brain for processing new information quicker. Thus, taking action now prepares you to be ready when the season opens, both physically and mentally.
The key now is to decide on how to do this. My advice, plan for the best case scenario. Act as though your season will open up on schedule. This will stimulate creative thinking on how to train now, especially if you have goals for levels of fitness and strength. And with an intent of being ready, you increase your motivation and purpose. Each day now becomes a small step in getting ready. Target small gains and accomplishments for each week, knowing that you will be ahead of those who waited once your sport gets the green light.
The reality is our future is always uncertain. There will always be unexpected complications, obstacles, and events that interfere with our progress toward our goals. Some of them are large and completely out of our control. Getting through these challenges requires dialing back and working on the things you can control. I’ve said it many times, the only things you ever have control of are your effort, attitude, and focus. So do what you can, in the now. Work on being fit. Develop mental skills that will pay off later. Take action that is in your best interest so that you are ready when opportunity arrives. Should you find yourself needing more help in this area, why wait? Make the call, bring in an expert.
