For athletes who are seeking to improve their performance in their particular sport, there is a lot more to it than just constant training. There are several lifestyle factors that impact athletic performance which you might not immediately think about.
As a sports performance coach, George Carlo is known for his work regarding the mind-body connection in human performance training. Carlo has worked with some of the most exceptional athletes, both as an independent consultant and an advisor to numerous organizations. Today he shares the 6 factors that impact sports performance.
- Sleep. One of the most important factors of sports performance happens when athletes are not even conscious! Getting proper, high-quality sleep is vital to let our body repair and heal. A lack of sleep can lead to higher injury rates, lack of concentration, and other detriments.
- Relaxation. Athletic performance is inhibited if a person can not bring themselves into a relaxed state and calm their nervous system. Some amount of anxiety is a part of life, but finding ways to reduce stress is so important.
- Stress. Athletes are under a lot of pressure to perform. Some may say that diamonds are made under pressure, but too much stress can impede performance.
- Overall health and energy levels. Athletes need time to rest and recover, otherwise, they can experience athletic burnout. Signs of athletic burnout include fatigue, lack of interest in the sport, being overly self-critical, and having a generally negative attitude.
- Nutrition. The body needs fuel, and this is especially true for athletes. They need the right balance of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in order to perform well.
- Motivation. This is one of the hardest factors to nail down. Athletes need to be intrinsically motivated when it comes to their sport. This means that they are doing it for the pure joy of it, and most of the motivation doesn’t come from an outside source.
