Mental Skills of Olympic Athletes You Can Use to Get Fit

Welcome back to Get-Fit Guy. I’m your host, Dr. Jonathan Su. Every week, I’ll share science-backed tips to help you get fit, stay fit, and optimize performance.

Watching the athletes at the Olympic Games these past weeks has been amazing. Not only are they at the top of the world in their athletic abilities, but their mental toughness is equal if not greater than their physical perfomance.

Have you ever wondered how Olympic athletes are able to stay focused and motivated through the relentless grind of Olympic training? How can they confidently execute the most difficult skills under the intense pressure of competition over and over again?

It’s no secret that performance at this level is as much mental as physical. So it’s no surprise that Olympic athletes use mental skills training to keep their body and mind performing at optimal levels.

What are mental skills, you ask? Mental skills are tools and techniques that enable an athlete to regulate their thoughts, feelings, and actions to help maximize their potential and achieve success. But you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to make use of mental skills. These tools can be used by anyone.

Mental skills are tools and techniques that enable an athlete to regulate their thoughts, feelings, and actions to help maximize their potential and achieve success. These tools can be used by anyone!

In this episode, I’ll give you the quick and dirty on two science-backed mental skills techniques of Olympic athletes that will help you stay motivated and focused to reach your fitness goals.

Goal Setting

One of the most important mental skills of Olympic athletes is goal setting. It seems like a no-brainer, but when done right, it is an extremely powerful way to direct your attention and energy towards what you’re trying to achieve. Goal setting is an important tool for elite athletes to remain focused and motivated through the grind of daily training.

There are three types of goals: process, performance, and outcome goals. We’ll explore each one in detail starting with outcome goals.

Outcome goals are your desired end result. They are important because they help you focus on the big picture of what you’re trying to achieve. For example, an outcome goal could be running a 5K in 30 minutes or less in 10 weeks. 

Outcome goals are your desired end result. They are important because they help you focus on the big picture of what you’re trying to achieve.

Notice how the goal is specific (running a 5K), measurable (in 30 minutes or less), and time-bound (in 10 weeks). The goal is also challenging yet achievable, which is key because it helps ground your goals in reality while stretching your...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips