Why Mental Performance?

Ever wonder why some athletes choke under pressure while others thrive? The true impact of training on performance? Mental performance is part of the answer... but what is it and why does it matter?

What is it?

An average high school athlete spends roughly 10-15 hours training per week; college and professional athletes even more. But most, if not all, of this time is spent training the physical and strategic aspects of the game. Very little time is dedicated to mental performance.

Basketball players improve shooting accuracy through repetition, but are they prepared to deal with crowd pressure at the free throw line? Distance runners condition their physical endurance and race pace, but are they prepared to confront “the wall?” Mental performance training considers these psychological factors (i.e., performance anxiety, composure, motivation) and helps athletes consistently perform at a high level. Mental performance is essential, but mental skills aren’t always intuitive. More often than not, performers are faced with challenges that require skills they’re unused to using.

Think of mental performance training like leveling up in a video game. Just because you have 115 XP in strength doesn’t mean you have equal ability in agility. Each skill needs its own proficiency before the combination of skills allows your player to level up. This is the purpose of mental performance training: acknowledging where you can grow and developing your ability to confront new challenges.

Everyone is capable of developing new skills, but that potential goes nowhere if you never start.

How do I start?

When starting your mental performance journey ask yourself: what am I looking for? Some want to understand the science behind their behaviors (e.g., self-talk). Others want to experiment with a new skill or are looking for a solution to a specific issue. Your reason dictates where you start.

For general interest or curiosity, it might make more sense to start with online resources. Books, videos, podcasts– this blog! – are great resources to get you started. But for those facing a specific challenge or those interested in developing a new skill with guidance, it might make more sense to meet with a mental performance consultant.

Mental performance with Makayla starts with an intake session that’s spent clarifying your goals. From there, it’s a collaborative process where we develop new skills and adjust depending on your needs.

For example, “Basket” experiences major anxiety before competitions. In our first session (consultation) we would discuss their experience, goals, and create an action plan. Going forward, we might decide to introduce breathing techniques to decrease performance anxiety. The techniques help for a while, but the breathing routine takes more time than Basket has and becomes another stressor. While it sucks to feel like you’re backsliding on progress, that’s okay (and expected). Progress isn’t linear and “failure” is just information that helps us do better. After going back to the drawing board, we might decide to create a shorter breathing routine or use a new skill entirely. We’ll keep working together until we identify what didn’t work, what will be helpful moving forward, and how Basket can use these skills to address future challenges down the road.

Three main takeaways from Basket’s mental performance experience are: (a) Basket’s goals dictate what our sessions look like, (b) we’re not looking for a “perfect skill” that solves a specific problem, we’re looking for a skill that Basket feels confident using in many different situations, and (c) we’re a team– the jobs not done until Basket feels confident in their ability to handle future challenges post mental performance training sessions.

Who is Mental Performance Training for?

We’ve talked about mental performance in a sport context, but it isn’t limited to athletic spaces. Mental performance training is effective for all performers–

• Dancer?

• Musician?

• Military?

• Business?

• Exerciser?

While not athletic pursuits, they’re all equally important. Have a big presentation and fear of public speaking? Want to develop your leadership skills? Struggle with motivation to train? This is for you. I want to be on your mental performance team. We’re working towards the same goal, so let’s get started.

Thanks for Reading!

Ever wonder why professional athletes have the same pregame routine? Want to learn to create a New Year’s Resolution that’ll stick? Curious about the effectiveness of online training apps? Performance Hub is the place for all your mental performance needs. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work!