7 Rules of Mental Conditioning

Today I completed my first 100 length swim in training for my Channel Swim challenge for next year! Now whilst 100 lengths may not get me anywhere near to the French coastline, it was certainly a significant step for me, both physically and psychologically.

 

I can remember getting to 72 lengths, which would still have been quite a significant training session, and thinking to myself that would be enough. No one would have said anything if I had stopped at that point. In fact, they probably would have applauded me for getting so far.

 

You see, other people can never set standards high enough for you… this is a task that only you can be responsible for. You role in life should be to constantly raise the bar for yourself, to set your sights higher each day, and then to take action in pursuit of your goals.

 

However, every such decision you make fortifies your muscles of persistence and will, making you stronger and better equipped to take on such challenges in the future. Having studied human physiology for so long, I can see so many crossovers between the body and the mind. We often take it for granted that our body needs conditioning to make a difference, and we understand that one trip to the gym or to the pool is not going to undo the years of abuse it has received.

 

Well exactly the same is required to train your mind. Although it clearly isn’t a muscle, you need to treat mental conditioning the same as you would as preparing to compete in the Olympics. Here is a list of the top 7 factors to consider when doing mental training.

 

1 – Get a coach. All top athletes have someone to guide and direct their training, someone who can push them harder in tough times and to give them perspective when necessary. A good life coach is essential to success in mental conditioning.

2 – Join a Club. Rarely do athletes train alone. Even athletes who train for individual events tend to join forces with like-minded others to help push and encourage one another, and to add a healthy element of competition. Your close network will determine a large amount of your individual success.

3 – Strengthening Work. You need to be challenging yourself every day to allow yourself to rise up. Spend time learning from the greats, read the classic self help and personal development books that have stood the test of time. Learn these in depth, pushing yourself hard to extract every last possible learning like you would to get one more repetition when lifting weights.

4 – Flexibility. Being agile allows you to compete in so many different areas of life, likewise with mental flexibility. The Law of Requisite Variety tells us that the person with the greatest degree of flexibility in any given situation will control that situation. Develop mental flexibility by delving into all sorts of subjects; science and religion, fiction and fact.

5 – Nutrition and Fuel. The computing acronym GIGO (garbage in garbage out) applies to the mind and body as well as to your laptop. Nourish your mind rather than feeding it mental candy to ensure that it supports you along your journey. Make sure you are filling it with material.

6 – Rest and Recovery. Our minds can easily get stuck in a rut, and rather than stopping altogether, a change is just as good. Find ways to access the other areas of your mind, particularly the creative and artistic faculties. This will help make you a more rounded person and avoid the tendency to burn out.

7 – Celebrate Victories. Remember to recognise your successes along the way. Just like an athlete would celebrate each individual victory on their way to the Olympics, whilst simultaneously keeping one eye on the greater goal. Enjoy the journey!