Inspiration

Importance Of Mental Focus And Clarity

Importance Of Mental Focus And Clarity

If you want an edge in any endeavor, athletics or otherwise, work on mental focus and clarity. Newer studies show that the difference between average and superior is often all in your head. It took centuries for someone to come close, although some unofficial claims were made, and almost 91 years to break the 4:01 threshold. Roger Bannister did it in 1954 with a record time of 3:59. That record stood for slightly more than a month. In the last 50 years, almost 1800 athletes have succeeded in running a mile in under four minutes. It shows the barrier was more mental than physical.

You also need mental clarity and focus to succeed.

If you want an edge in any endeavor, athletics or otherwise, work on mental focus and clarity. Newer studies show that the difference between average and superior is often all in your head. It took centuries for someone to come close, although some unofficial claims were made, and almost 91 years to break the 4:01 threshold. Roger Bannister did it in 1954 with a record time of 3:59. That record stood for slightly more than a month. In the last 50 years, almost 1800 athletes have succeeded in running a mile in under four minutes. It shows the barrier was more mental than physical.

Enjoying your activity can help you recover from a setback.

Whether you’ve had an injury or want to improve your performance, approaching training with a more positive attitude helps. Animal studies show the animals made greater strides when an enjoyable or entertaining aspect was part of the training. Fitness apps or mindfulness can help you refine your training and incentivize yourself to achieve more.

Know your limits and work to expand them.

There’s nothing wrong with knowing your limits. It gives you a place to start. Learn how to refuel yourself and keep your energy and focus high. Sometimes, it means taking time with friends. At other times, it’s resting. Good food also plays a role in boosting your energy. Setting smaller daily goals that lead to larger, long-term goals paves the road to success and keeps you focused.

  • You can boost mental clarity by choosing the appropriate food. For instance, sage contains phytochemicals like luteolin, quercetin, rosmarinic acid, and apigenin. They improve mood and increase cognitive abilities.
  • Mental clarity means having focus and ignoring distractions. It allows you to process all that’s around you. Eliminating distractions from unimportant information is vital to winning.
  • Mental clarity helps you improve your reaction time and make split-second decisions necessary to adjust your play.
  • Training to become the best involves all aspects of life, from the physical side and dietary requirements to the mental grit. Once you include all the dimensions, you’ll see faster improvement.

For more information, contact us today at Next Level Fitness


Reach Your Goals

Reach Your Goals

If you’ve made goals before and never achieved them, don’t give up. Here are some simple ways to help you reach your goals. The first is to write down your goals. Do you want to have more energy, lose weight, or just feel better? Decide how you’re going to do it. Will you change your diet? Get more exercise? Or is doing a combination of the two your road to victory? Having a plan of action is important.

Make a SMART goal.

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. If weight loss is your goal, how much do you want to lose? You can use anything from the number of pounds to the ability to fit into a specific article of clothing. That’s also how you make it measurable. Losing 30 pounds by the next week isn’t achievable in a healthy manner, so make sure your goal is both achievable and realistic. The last letter, T for Timely is the most important. Give yourself a deadline. If you’ve ever pulled an all-nighter, you know how important a deadline can be. Without a deadline, you’ll always be putting off your goal until tomorrow, which never comes.

Break your goal into smaller units that are easier to accomplish.

A huge goal can be overwhelming. If you need to lose 50 pounds, it can look insurmountable and even losing a couple of pounds can feel like failure. If you break down your goal into smaller units and spread it over months, it can bring success quickly and give you a feeling of accomplishment. Losing 2 pounds a week for 25 weeks keeps you motivated and gives you the successful boost you need every week.

Start meal planning.

If you want to stick with any healthy diet, make it easier to do by planning. You plan the meals one day, shop for the ingredients a second day, and do all the cooking the third. Then you just store the food for the week. Every day, just heat and serve. You even plan snacks for the morning and evening. Meal planning saves money and time. It keeps you on track for success.

  • Make your workout an appointment and put it on your calendar. Keep it at the same time every day. Doing it at the same time helps create a habit.
  • Track your workout. Winners keep score. Have a workout plan ready. Include the number of sets and reps. You can see your progress on paper and make workout time a game.
  • Make it a point to be more active. Walk or take a bike instead of driving if possible. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If your work is sedentary, get up and move every 50 minutes. Stand up, walk in place, or do other movements.
  • If you want to lose weight, eat slower. It’s good for digestion and helps your brain catch up with your stomach to tell you you’re full quicker. Make sure you get more sleep. Lack of sleep causes an increase in ghrelin, the hunger hormone.

For more information, contact us today at Next Level Fitness