The bulk of our energy is spent on developing the physical part of ourselves as an athlete. However, most sports involve a very large mental component, and those “mental muscles” are often ignored. One important function of our mental muscles is “cognitive control”. Cognitive control is a general term for the regulation of all our thinking processes, including (but not limited to) problem solving, planning, sustaining attention, managing impulses, and executing behaviors. These are all brain functions essential to athletic (as well as academic, interpersonal, and professional) success. There’s good news, too: research has found that strengthening one’s abilities in cognitive control is possible through mindfulness exercises.
Mindfulness involves being intentionally and attentively in the present moment. It requires the suspension of judgment and critique of what is going on and staying in the now versus rehashing the past or rehearsing for the future. Emphasis is placed on being aware of one’s current state without necessarily doing anything active about it. Mindfulness helps train the part of the brain that creates a calm and alert state of mind and can lead to lower levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone”).
Through bringing our attention inward and into the here and now, we become more aware of our current thoughts, feelings, and physical states and improve the communication between the body and mind. This also allows us to dial down the “noise” that occurs in our brain with a past/future focus, enabling us to maintain better composure and perspective. This may prevent both mental and physical stress reactions from negatively impacting our performance.
Written by Jennifer Lager,Psy.D.
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