The Mindful Athlete

I have grown up playing sports for as long as I remember. In high school I played sports year round; soccer, basketball and lacrosse. I have learned many things in the 19 years I have been alive but I can proudly say that most of them are from sports and being part of a team. Without these teams and the lessons I have learned I wouldn't be half the person I am today. Here is a few things that travel teams, rec teams, high school teams, and my college sports career has taught me. First things first sports have taught me one very important thing: self care. I have learned how to take care of my body in order to keep myself healthy. It is very important for athletes to take care of themselves as far as hydrating, sleeping, eating, resting, and working out. I have learned when my body needs rest and when I need to work hard. I strongly believe this is an important thing to do throughout life.  Another thing I have learned is social skills. Playing on teams and being on a team ha...

Mistakes often take a toll on the way athletes perform, especially collegiate athletes. It is important to know why you made a mistake and how you can fix it. Yeah, your coach might yell at you but it all comes from a good place to make you better as an individual. There is no point to be scared to make a mistake, I was always told to make a mistake at 100% and make up for it. There is something to think about when you do make a mistake whether it be in a game or even just practice. Let's talk the three f's. Fix it: Learn from your mistake. Take what you did wrong and fix it to make you a better player. Why make a mistake if you're not going to learn from it. Forget about it: This is very important. Dwelling on a mistake will only make it worse. The more you think about it the more it will effect the way you play and you are more likely to make more mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, forget about it. Focus: Re-focus yourself and get back to the mentality you ad...