Do you feel anxious on a day you have to perform your best

Do you have mental chaos and lack focus?

Do you want to have a routine so you can gain focus and execute with ease?

To succeed and perform the best, high achievers use their minds as well as their bodies. Mental techniques help to control emotions, manage stress and improve participation and performance.

Learning to mentally prepare each day takes practice and a plan. Having a routine will help you tackle the challenges that come your way or provide you with the mindset to start and execute your day with ease.

Having an effective mental preparation routine is a way to transform the everyday busy self into a mentally focused and prepared champion.

There are many ways to do this. Some may focus by listening or humming a certain song. Others may gain confidence and focus by wearing a certain piece of clothing or jewelry.

The purpose of a mental preparation routine is to help eliminate distractions and allow focus on what you need to accomplish.

Here are 5 steps that can be included in developing a mental preparation routine:

5 Tips to an Effective Mental Preparation Routine

1. Breathe – Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep diaphragm breathes. When someone is anxious, they breathe from their upper chest. Breathing is rapid and shallow. Breath control helps performers to breathe slowly and steadily from the diaphragm. This reduces anxiety. Do this for 5 minutes as this helps clear your mind, focus on the present moment and relax.

2. Visualize – Imagine the flow of your day. Imagine with all your senses execution your performance done with ease, confidence, feeling calm and focused. Imagine any challenges that come your way and your ability to overcome them.

3. Reflect – Reflect on what needs to get done. What’s does your performance look like and what priorities do you have? What have you learned from your past experiences to assist with what needs to be executed? What help and resources are needed?

4. Focus – Choose a focal point, something very small, and concentrate on that point. This helps pull the mind to the present moment.

5. Journal – Write in a journal to help mentally “let go”. If you had mental roadblocks or frustration write it down and let it go. Write what you want your outcome to be in the present tense as if it has already happened.

Once you’ve prepared yourself mentally for the day you can commit to your outcome then start your day focused on the process and your performance to achieve it.

A mental preparation routine does not guarantee success, but it allows you to occupy the right mind-set and achieve success more often.

Create a routine, practice it, and adjust it as needed. Soon it becomes part of who you are and allows you to be focused, calm and confident each day.

Master the Mind, Master the Game