How often have you been driving somewhere only to arrive and realize you don’t really remember the actual drive? Do you ever sit down with a bowl of popcorn and eat it so mindlessly that you are surprised when you look down and realize the bowl is already empty? It is almost as if you were on autopilot, engaged in the task but not fully aware or concentrating on what you are doing in that moment.
Mindfulness, a term becoming more popular in mainstream society and particularly in the world of sport, refers to having full awareness in the present moment. It’s the ability to know what you are thinking, feeling, and experiencing physically at any given time.
Why is mindfulness important? Well, an athlete can have a toolbox full of mental performance skills but if they lack understanding and awareness of what is going on for them in that exact moment, they will not know what skill or tool to use or when. This is where mindfulness activities come in. Practicing mindfulness can help an athlete to develop their sense of self-awareness, which in turn informs action. Recognition of a racing heart, worry thoughts, and inconsistent performance for example, can serve as a cue for the athlete. It’s the awareness of the physical sensations, emotions and behavior that alerts the athlete for the need to respond with relevant mental performance skills. In this situation, that could include deep breathing, positive self- talk, and visual imagery. The key to mindfulness, like developing any skill is practice, practice, and more practice.
A great place to start is with mindful eating. The next time you sit down to a meal, make a conscious decision to chew more slowly and simply try to notice what tastes stand out, and how the texture of the food changes the longer you chew it. The beautiful thing about practicing mindfulness is that it can be done at any time providing lots of opportunity to sharpen your senses and your skills without having to try to carve out more time in an already busy schedule. Improved concentration, increased ability to put the ball exactly where you want it, and quicker response times. Just a few examples of what can happen when you become more mindful. What athlete doesn’t want that? It all starts with mindfulness.
