In the heat of the moment, it can be hard for athletes to relax. Voices start taking over and it is easy to get really frustrated. Here are some tips on how to relax when these moments arise.
- Take 5 deep breaths
Focusing on breathing will start to relax your body and your mind right away. This is a great way to get back to a relaxed head space.
- Count to 10
Counting to 10 forces your mind to think about something else. It can calm you down and let you look at the situation with a fresh mindset.
- Sing a song in your head
This is another technique to use when getting stressed in the middle of a game. Think of a happy song that can motivate you to get back into a groove. It can be silly, serious, or just a favorite song you like to listen to.
Related: 9 Essential Game Day Rituals from Yale Athletes
- Put your frustration on a scale
On a scale from 1 to 10 how bad is the situation you are in? 1 being not bad at all and 10 being the end of the world. It helps to put the game into perspective because in reality what you are facing is not as bad as you think at the moment.
- Have a short term memory
Do not dwell on the negatives. Forget about your mistake and tell yourself you'll do better next time. This helps you not let your mistakes influence how you play the rest of the game.
- Look forward to the next point
After you make a mistake, put your focus on the point or play ahead of you. It is easy to be stuck in the moment but it is more beneficial to move on.
Related: 4 Tips to Recover from a Bad Game
* Originally published on November 8, 2021, by Sydney DeNardo
