I recently wrote a blog post about the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques for performance anxiety, and how suppressing the anxiety may not be the answer for everyone. I am continuing my discussion of this topic with a detour into the physiology behind performance anxiety and how it is possible to tweak your … Continue reading Challenge versus threat: The power of perspective
Category: Psychology
Performance anxiety – suppress or embrace?
The idea of performance anxiety - butterflies, pre-race nerves, fear, dread, however you like to describe it - is aversive for many athletes. Admittedly, there is nothing instantly appealing about excess adrenaline and confidence-busting thoughts as you wait to tee off, take a penalty, toe the start line or walk onto the pitch. Indeed, research supports … Continue reading Performance anxiety – suppress or embrace?
Running with my values: Staying focused on what’s important
I've decided to write about my track session from this morning with the aim of reflecting upon how tapping into personal values can be a way of staying focused and committed throughout training/exercise sessions. Following my recent return to regular track training, having been training erratically due to a hectic schedule, I decided to challenge … Continue reading Running with my values: Staying focused on what’s important
Are you self-critical? If so, read this.
How often do you find yourself despairing over mistakes you have made? Do you judge yourself in comparison to others? When you fail at something, do you feel like a "failure"? If these seem familiar, you're not alone. The tendency to be excessively self-critical will vary a lot from person to person, but still it remains prevalent. I … Continue reading Are you self-critical? If so, read this.
Chloe Oldfield 