With our proud sporting heritage and prominent fitness culture, Newcastle has long been home to determined athletes. From kick-off at St James’ Park to weekend runs along the Quayside, there is a true passion for sport in our city. However, successful athletes rely on more than just their physical fitness. The high-pressure sporting world can pose significant challenges to mental health, with concerns about progression, injury and meeting high expectations abound. This doesn’t just apply to the Alexander Isak’s of the world – pressure to meet a particular fitness goal can affect anyone. That being said, let’s look at some strategies for nurturing a positive mindset that will get you across the finish line - whatever that may look like for you.
 

The importance of self-validation

By placing too much emphasis on a single performance, our self-esteem becomes skewed. This can result in us only feeling worthy when we perform well. Similarly, an over-reliance on external validation from a coach, audience or even family member can result in feelings of intense shame which are very disruptive to mental wellbeing. By challenging unhelpful thought patterns with techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), you can train your mind to be more resilient and develop a more positive mindset.  If you are a coach to athletes, reinforce the importance of positive self-image during your training sessions.
 

Identifying coping mechanisms

When suffering from low mood or anxiety arising from an intense pressure to meet high standards, people may adopt coping mechanisms that do more harm than good. If you find yourself regularly engaging in risky behaviours like gambling or excessive alcohol consumption as an outlet, it is important that you take these warning signs seriously and address any underlying issues. With experienced professionals on hand to help you along the way, First Psychology Newcastle offers flexible, confidential help with a wide range of concerns.
 

Being consistent

Like a physical training regime, your mental wellbeing requires consistent effort. Consider making time for mindfulness and relaxation exercises after your training sessions. You might even consider giving your mind a break from social media through digital detoxing. The content we see online is often an unrealistic highlight reel, leading us to make unhelpful comparisons between our performance and what we see on social media platforms.


If you’d like to learn more about sports psychology, our free booklet contains experiences from professional sportspeople and practical strategies to help you not only achieve your goals, but build a strong mindset while you do it.