Holistic Athlete Weekly Newsletter

Sharpening the Axe

Being productive and feeling good mentally are strongly correlated. Of course, there are extremes that may be unhealthy, such as attributing your self-worth to the amount you’re able to get done in a day. But feeling busy, achieving goals, working towards something that matters to you — these all positively impact our mental health, and vice versa, as good mental health leads to better performance.

Whether you’re creating a gameplan, going to the gym, or cooking dinner, the most successful people are able to find the right balance between preparation and action. For example, if all you ever did was watch film but didn’t practice on the field, you wouldn’t be prepared. If you have an hour to cook a meal which is best made with a significant amount of prep done before hand, you’ll need to decide on priorities and timing to get it done with the resources you have.