Going "All In”

11/30/23

Most athletes have an insatiable drive to compete, win, and be successful. This is one of the greatest strengths of an athlete, but perhaps also an “Achilles heel” at times. Going “All in” as an athlete is what it takes to be exceptional, and yet greatness always has an opportunity cost.

Part of being an elite athlete is knowing when to go “all in” in at practice, training, and games. However, I also believe part of being an elite athlete is knowing when to go “all in” on your mental health and well-being. As a former athlete, I recognize that time is a limited resource, so I’m not under the false impression this is always feasible during the season. Rather, I’m suggesting that in the off season or whenever an athlete has a short break to maximize that time to go “all in” on supporting himself/herself as a person. As the holiday season is approaching maybe for some this time offers a brief space of reprieve and reflection to do that.

Taking care of yourself during slower times as an athlete is equally as important for your performance and overall wellness, as during go times. Athletes’ recharging their mind, body, and spirit is necessary for peak performance to be sustainable.

The problem I notice that discourages lots of athletes is feeling like there isn’t enough down time to invest in their well-being. I always encourage athletes to start where you are with what you have. If that means you have 10 minutes a day, or 1 hour a week to yourself then how can you most effectively use that window to invest in yourself?

It’s easy to trick yourself into thinking because you don’t have a whole day off to dedicate to self-care each week to do nothing at all. It is the work athletes do in the margins that separates good performance from great, and mediocre wellness from optimal wellness.

The scarcity mindset will always make you believe you don’t have enough of “_____” to improve. An abundance mindset is aware of what resources are limited but maximizes what is there instead of being stuck on what’s not.

Going “All in” is going to look differently each day, depending on a variety of factors. But it’s learning to come to terms with the reality I’m not infallible, and yet I can do my best with what energy I have today.

Applying this mindset in both sport and life is when transformation, growth, and wellness have the most staying power.