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4 Ways Athletes Can Access Motivation When They’re Not In Season

By Scott Abramson|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on November 23, 2022)

Motivation outside of the season can be hard to come by, even for hard-working athletes. For many, the season ended without a trophy, and those athletes may feel tired from the season-long fight. Athletes that got that long-sought-after reward, now feel accomplished and satisfied after such a long season and are ready for a break. Either way, how do you as a college athlete come by the motivation to get back to work?

Take the Needed Break

As great as it is to have that fire lit under your eyes to get right back to work, it's necessary for a break–especially if that fire isn't there. You put everything into that season and rightfully, deserve a break. So take a week off, have some fun with friends, and de-stress from the season. After the week or so break, look to get back to work with the motivation of coming back and winning next season or going back-to-back if you won this past season.

Work with Friends

Whether it's the gym, track, pool, or any other environment like the basketball courts or soccer fields, go with friends. Working out with friends will help you have fun and increase that motivation to go. You will also be able to then hold each other accountable if one of the friends is lacking some motivation. Create competitions in the gym or on the field to get that competitive spirit going. After all, what kind of college athlete doesn't like some competition?

Watch Motivational Videos and Movies

Cliche? Maybe. However, watching some motivational videos on Youtube or listening to some on Spotify while you are laying in bed or doing homework will get you going. You will be ready to get back to work for your goals for the offseason and next year. In addition, on nights when you are staying in with friends and deciding on a movie to watch, those sports movies are entertaining and are a guaranteed motivator.

Use Your Past Experiences

You have just finished your season and it's now the offseason. Whatever you experienced in your past season should be used as motivation this off-season. If you started and won the national championship–congrats! Now it's time to go back-to-back because no one remembers teams that just won something once. If you were on a team that won the championship but you didn't play much, it's time to get to work to prove next season you deserve to play for the team and win again. If your team didn't win and you played, get to work to step up and bring your team to the next level next season. Finally, if your team didn't win and you didn't play much, it's time for you to prove that you're the go-to athlete on your team next year. My point is, no matter what situation you're in, you should look to your past season as motivation because no one has reached their maximum potential and everyone has something to prove.

If you need motivation for your offseason, take your well-deserved break, look to your friends, watch some motivational videos and use your past experience. Everyone has something to prove, all you have to do is find it and work towards it with the motivation of some of the methods above.
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