Distance is a drag. Distance is a waste of time.
This is a reference to the forced break from swimming pools many water enthusiasts are experiencing because of lockdowns, restrictions, and closures.
It’s vital to take the time to grow as a person, especially with all this time away from the water. We’ve put together some tips to maximize your productivity as a swimmer (and person in general!) Bradley Crocker, PhD student in Health Psychology. Continue reading to learn more.
CREATE SEPARATE ENVIRONMENTS FOR MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY
The Dual Processing Model (DPM) is a psychological model that describes decision-making mechanisms. The Dual Processing Model suggests that our behavior is partly unconscious and influenced by our environment’s implicit cues.
Your brain associates your bed with sleeping and uses its proximity as a cue to trigger all sorts of physiological responses that make you drowsy. Your brain associates the bed with sleeping, and your proximity to it triggers all kinds of physiological reactions that make you sleepy.
It’s important to separate your home into different areas. This will help you to understand when it is time to exercise and when you are not.
It will be easier to motivate yourself to start a workout or practice when you are presented with a visual cue. It’s the same for any other type of work. Doing schoolwork or work tasks in a different space will help your brain distinguish between work time and leisure.
BECOME A STUDENT OF THE SPORT
It’s true that “every day” is a day of school. There is always something to learn or improve, no matter how good we are at a certain sport or stroke.
Use this time to learn about swimming. Study the techniques of top swimmers and assess their stroke counts, underwater kicks, or arm placement. Sport psychology books can help you improve your mental game. Immerse yourself into the sport to gain a solid understanding of how good swimming and competition looks. When you return to the water, you will be able to use this knowledge and improve your results.
VISUALIZATION IS KEY!
Visualization can be a powerful tool. Many of the best athletes in the world use it regularly. Mentally practice a race, from putting on your race suit to reaching the wall at its end. It helps develop the mind-body link because the nerves of our brain will start to fire when we visualize an action.
Be sure to pay attention to all the details. How many underwater kicks can you perform after the first corner? Do you increase your leg speed during the third lap of the race? What is your stroke rate as you approach the final touch? It is important to know the details of your stroke rate as you approach the final touch. This will help form habits and eliminate the need for quick decisions in future races.
Visualization can be beneficial for all swimmers, not just elite athletes. Imagine yourself swimming a full lap and focusing on corrections. You can also visualize your elbow position or tightening your arms in order to achieve a smoother streamline.
