Three Gifts For Performing Well
It's just like Christmas morning
I expect most of us have done our Christmas shopping by now - dashing through the crowds to find gifts that will bring a joyous grin to our loved ones. That feeling of anticipation just before you open a gift, or watch someone else open theirs, is one of the best feelings in the world…
That anticipation…the moment before the moment. A little like when you first see there’s a new edition of The Active Edge out and you’re not sure what nuggets you might learn this week…it’s exciting!
I’d argue training for a specific performance is a little bit like that anticipation. Without the build up, the suspense…the outcome is a little underwhelming. We need to go through the moments before, to enhance the magnitude of the actual event.
So on this merry Christmas eve eve, I bring you 3 Christmas gifts…gifts that can enhance the magnitude of your performances:
1. Self-Awareness
Continual work on your self-awareness is imperative to being a good performer. It’s the starting point for any personal development and the same applies to high performance. To figure out what to do, you have to be aware of what you need.
You’ve got to know the moment you are in and if you need more work or more rest. More gym sessions or more time away. More feedback from your coach or for your coach to get out of the way. Another Christmas movie or bed time.
Developing self-awareness is all about bringing your awareness closer (in time) to the action. Most of us are pretty good at looking back with hindsight and spotting we could’ve done with a bit more/less of something here/there. How many of us are pretty good at spotting it when we’re actually in the moment, or even before that moment arrives?
Self-awareness comes from accurately knowing where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to go. Being aware of yourself then begins to affect your self efficacy. A few ideas to try:
Journal every day for a month about the things you’ve done that day and the key feelings that came up. Reading your thoughts is much more insightful than listening to them - you might spot a few themes.
Track your energy and mood, noting what might have made it better or worse. Do less of the things acting as energy-drainers.
Ask people you trust for feedback about you. Our close ones see things we like to avoid seeing ourselves - a fresh perspective can tell us a lot.
2. An Excuse To Rest
For those that need to hear it at this time of year (or at any point in your training) - Be proactive with rest and rest days.
If you are someone that tends to hear that voice in your head (or the voice of a tyrannical coach) saying “You can’t rest because you have a session today” even when you feel drained, stressed, or ill - I’m talking to you even more so.
Try to avoid getting caught up in these thoughts and don’t lose sight of the hundreds of successful sessions that have shaped (and will shape) you over time.
Reactive rest days are better than none, but are a response to a problem - not the prevention of the problem. Christmas week can be a good time to assess your recovery strategies. Ask yourself:
What is my ‘switching-off from training’ plan? This means distancing yourself from your sporting identity and resting your brain from thinking.
When is my next “me-time” scheduled? This means only answering to you and your wants.
Do I have enough variety in my training? This means keeping training exciting and avoiding the tedium and repetitiveness that can come, whether that be people, places, foods, etc.
3. Some Love From Active Edge
If you want to do anything meaningful that’s linked to a big, important goal - you need a team. The people around you influence your strength, resilience, and energy. The right people respect your choices, celebrate your wins, guide without taking control, and are a source of energy to pick you up. Without these pieces of the puzzle, you’re really making it harder to get there and harder to enjoy the ride.
But it’s never just about the goal. Relationships are also what lead to a fulfilling life and a meaningful experience. In the end, we remember the things we did with the people we did them with. We remember the way we were made to feel. Consider these points:
Who celebrates my successes with genuine excitement and supports me through tough times?
Who consistently energises me and leaves me feeling motivated after we connect? Are there relationships I’ve neglected that I want to invest more in?
Do the people closest to me understand and support my goals even if they don’t share them? Are the people I spend time with aligned with the kind of life I want to lead?
These gifts aren’t just for Christmas though, they’re some of the fundamentals to healthy performance - something that can happen the whole year round.
And on that note, I bow out for another jolly year.
Merry Christmas lovely people,
Ron
Active Edge Recommendations
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Book a call with one of us. If you’re looking for 1:1 coaching, rehab advice, or ways to work on your mindset - we’re ready when you are.
Visit our Substack for previous insights and performance advice.
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Leave a comment on Substack with some of your responses to the questions, or any Christmas gifts you might have to share with other readers.
If you have been reading along consistently, thank you. In the meantime, if you’re keen for more performance insights from our previous editions - all here on Substack.
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