1. Spend time with teammates once in a while.
This one is very easy; just call your friends and ask to hang out! Seeing the people who you train with during crunch time is always a good way to remember what you are training for. Whether it is for a practice, or just a bite to eat, seeing their faces will remind you that you are training for something bigger than yourself. After all, athletes compete not only for the love of the game, but also for the love of the people who help them along the way. Also, remember to hold your teammates accountable for mistakes they make in their training and hopefully they will do the same for you.
2. Celebrate every small victory.
You've all heard the saying "appreciate the little things." Take it one step further and celebrate the little things. Every off-season feels like an eternity of training without any opportunity for glorification or accolades that come during the season. No chance to win a race, score a goal, win a point, or even compete for the fear of getting injured. A good way to substitute the thrill of winning in competition is to celebrate successful training in the off-season just like you would a win in the playoffs. There is no simulating the high you get from winning, but you can imitate the victory celebration afterward, and in some cases, that can be just as fulfilling.
3. Dream big, dream small. Dream vivid, and dream public.
Most people believe in the tale that you can never share a wish or it will not come true. However, that could not be further from the truth! Set a big long-term goal for yourself that you believe you can reach, and tell the world. Friends, family, and teammates will believe in you, support you, and keep you on track. If your goal is as big as it should be, you will need this support to reach it. Next, dream small. Set process oriented goals for yourself that are very specific. These should be analogous to an instruction manual with step-by-step instructions guiding you to your finished product. Process-oriented goals should be extremely realistic and short term so that they can eventually lead to success!
4. Buy an alarm clock… and use it!
An important aspect of training is consistency. You are an athlete. While everyone else gets to sleep in and recover on Sunday mornings after an exhausting weekend, you get up early and train. No excuses. You chose to play your sport; do it right. Set a schedule for yourself, and follow it. Consistency is key: consistent sleep, consistent training, and consistent diet. Creating a training log is a powerful tool to keep track of how you are doing.
5. Have fun; remember you are training for a passion, not a chore.
Love your sport and everything you do because nothing in life is worth wasting time on if you do not enjoy.
