Why You Should Think of Yourself as an Athlete
Do you have a body? Then you're an athlete
That’s Nike’s motto:
“If you have a body, you’re an athlete.”
We think that athletes are that elite 1% of the population.
But you can still consider your body an "athlete’s” body, even if you do not compete, run a race, or pursue a sport-related goal. Here's why.
Benefits to thinking of yourself as an athlete
Better health and sleep
More confidence in your life
Strong routines, plans, and seasons for life
A growth mindset that can keep you going
Preparedness for the physical demands of life
Athletes work hard to improve their body and achieve great physical results.
Now you might not be trying to run a 10 second 100m dash.
Maybe you don’t see yourself lifting hundreds of pounds on the barbell.
But I’ll bet you want to be able to go on a brisk walk with your pet dog.
Or you want to keep up with your kids on the playground.
I’ll bet you want to be able to carry some groceries from the car to the kitchen.
We are all athletes of life! And life demands that we use our bodies to live well!
Here are a few ways you can use an athlete’s mindset to improve your physical well being:
What are your goals for the season?
Many athletes think of their health in terms of big chunks.
What do I want to achieve this year? (in 2023)
What’s the next big competition? (the Olympics in 2024)
What’s beyond that? The next season? The next Olympics?
Notice that none of this is small short term thinking.
99% of us think of our health in short 30-day bursts.
We do 30-day fitness challenges, and 30-day weight loss goals. But powerful health goals take place over years, not months and days.
Ask yourself:
Where do I want to be at the end of this year?
Where do I want to be in 5 years?
How can I work towards that today?
The athlete’s Number 1 Skill: Sticking to the Plan
Only 23% of people around the word get enough exercise.
That’s 1 in 4 people!
That’s because for most people, they focus on the end goal and not the plan that gets them there.
An athlete has the ability to just focus on showing up today. Even though the competition is so far, they stick to their plan and focus on making it part of their every day routine.
For athletes it might be:
Lift weights for 60 minutes a day
Practice Skills for 60 minutes
Make sure nutrition is good
Get enough sleep to recover
Guess what? A regular person’s plan should be the same- with less exercise too!
Lift weights or do yoga for 15-20 minutes
Walk for 15-20 minutes
Make sure you eat well
Get enough sleep to recover.
You don’t have to be an elite athlete to think of yourself as one. Thinking of yourself as an athlete will give you the focus and commitment you need to reach your physical health goals.
Embracing the athlete mindset
100% of athletes experience setbacks at some point in their career.
I don’t know any athlete who has never been injured. I don’t know any athlete who has never felt weak, left-behind, or outpaced. I don’t know any athlete who has never lost a game.
Sport is hard, and there’s a lot of failure.
Just like life.
If you feel like you’re health is unmanageable: Welcome to the world! That’s 100% of the human population.
Everyone is trying to get their health under control
Like the athlete: can you embrace the process and enjoy the journey?
If your health is stressing you out, it’s time for a reframe:
How can I enjoy the process of getting healthy?
How can I adopt a growth mindset and learn from my experiences?
Who can support me on this journey of health?
Asking these questions will help you be less stressed, less overwhelmed, and more optimistic about your health.
Remember, you’re an athlete too! An athlete of life
You’re going to participate in carrying groceries, rolling with kids, traveling, exploring, and taking in everything life has to offer.
Prepare yourself like an athlete
Have a vision, a plan, and some goals for the years to come.
Stick to the plan, show up, and practice everyday.
Expect setbacks, and be ready to keep moving forward.