It’s easy for an athlete’s thoughts to get stuck in the past or fixed in the future.  Athletes often have difficulty letting go of a mistake or keeping themselves from thinking about what might happen.  Before they realize it, a second mistake compounds the first or they miss something important because they were dreaming of a podium finish.

You can’t stay completely focused in the present all the time; In fact, it’s a good idea to give yourself a mental break once in a while during your competitions.  Thinking about the past or future can be taken too far, however.  Make sure that you are in the here and now when it counts by periodically asking yourself, “What do I have to do now?” during your competitions.  This will help your head stay where it needs to be when it counts.