How To Handle the Tough Days
How To Handle the Tough Days
We’ve all had those days. You’re tired and body parts hurt. Maybe you feel you’re moving slower than normal. You’re getting destroyed by people you usually beat. Sometimes your brain feels fuzzy and you can’t remember any of the Jiu-Jitsu you’ve learned in the past eight years. If you’re training hard and regularly for any length of time, you are going to have these days. It’s normal. And it’s OK. Here are some tips for coping with the tough days:
Stay positive. Don’t let yourself think “I suck” or “I can’t do this”. Sometimes we can’t help the negative thoughts that cross our minds, but we don’t have to dwell on them. I recently heard an analogy that I absolutely love. “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you don’t have to let it make a nest in your hair.” Counteract the negative thoughts with positive ones. You got this. “It’s gonna be a good day!”
Focus on something small. You may not be able to perform like you normally do, but you can still get something out of the training, even if it’s just surviving. Sometimes I just have to tell myself to keep moving. No matter what happens, and no matter what position I end up in, just don’t stop moving.
Surround yourself with people who will lift you up. A little encouragement can go a long way. Have people around you who can remind you of your strengths, even on days when you feel super weak.
Don’t get too focused on winning and losing. It’s training. It doesn’t matter. We won’t grow unless we open up and try things, and sometimes we can learn the most from the matches we lose.
Focus on breathing. When we get frustrated, we often start breathing harder and faster, which then makes it harder to catch our breath, and makes us tire very quickly and perform worse. Take a minute to focus on taking slow, deep breaths and relax.
Remember that one match or one training session does not define you. Take what you can learn from it, let the rest go, and start fresh the next day.
Take time to step back and appreciate what you have. Even on the rough days, you’re still on the mats and training. Take a moment to be grateful for what you have and what you are blessed to be able to do.
By
Nikki Sullivan