Staying the Course

Photo Courtesy: Len Lanetti

By Emily Messina, Swimming World College Intern

If you are a college swimmer, you have just come off of a week or two of challenging training and are probably heading back to colder weather and the stress of school. It might feel like it is time for taper and relaxation. However, this is an important time to push training and a significant moment for mental strength and passionate motivation.

Here are four tips to help you stay the course with fervid determination as you continue to work hard and prepare for the big meet at the end of the season.

1. Take it day by day.

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

January is an interesting and somewhat awkward month. It contains the confusion and anxiety that comes from beginning a new semester. Additionally, it is a connecting point from tiring winter training and specified preparation for end of season meets. It might feel like the end of season is near and it’s about time to begin wrapping things up. Nevertheless, no matter what it feels like and what you want to be doing, it is essential to remember that this month is vital to success at the big meet.

Take every day as separate from the previous one. Strive to complete each task that you set out to do with maximum and high-quality effort. And if you accomplish that, it is a personal victory. If you don’t, tomorrow is just as important and filled with just as many redeeming moments. Focusing on each day and the current task at hand can help make everything much more manageable. In addition, it can help build your mental strength and confidence in increments.

2. Revisit Your Goals.

Now is a great time to review all of the goals that you set at the beginning of the season. If you have forgotten about them, there is still time to get after them, even if you feel far away from achieving them.

Revisiting goals is a great way to self-motivate because it helps to create some focus in your work in an effort to stay on the course to success. Goals can remind you of your reasoning as to why you dedicate so much time and sacrifice so much to the sport.

Reminding yourself of your team goals is a great way to get out of your own head and look at the bigger picture.

3. Be a good teammate.

Photo Courtesy: Joey Soraghan

Everyone wants to accomplish their goals and watch their teammates do the same. As big as self-motivation is, it can be a struggle to always keep your eyes on the finish line and remember these goals. This is where good teammates come in. Sometimes we need some external support when we are feeling overworked and stressed out.

Having an attentive and supportive team can help boost you up and push you to stay the course, even when you don’t think you have it in you. On the flip side, being an understanding and motivating teammate not only provides encouragement and guidance to others, but it can also remind you yourself of what is important.

4. Visualize success.

Visualization is a great resource to destress and prepare for big moments. You can practice visualizing yourself getting ready for your big meet, your pre-race rituals, or the actual race itself. A crucial aspect to remember is that during visualization you should be envisioning yourself in the most perfect light; accomplishing things the exact what you would like, utilizing your desired technique and strategy, and achieving your goals. Swimming World has a great article on the best practices of visualization.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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Joe Cihak

7 years ago

This is a great article, good insight for what I think is the hardest part of the season.

Joe Cihak

7 years ago

This is a great article, good insight for what I think is the hardest part of the season.