Mental Training Homework: 5 Books Every Athlete Should Read

Mental Training School is in session and I have your first assignment for 2018!

When I assign homework to athletes – I actually call it “funwork” 😀

I call it this because the homework I assign is designed with the purpose of increasing your enjoyment of your sport. Your assigned “funwork” not only builds the mental skills necessary to be resilient and perform your potential, it also helps you think about and relate to your sport and your performance in a different way. It can enhance your relationship with your sport and increase your understanding of yourself.

Over the past 15 years I’ve seen people come to a greater understanding of the importance of sport psychology and working on mental training, but still struggle with the how: how do I actually work on my mental game? I started the Mental Training School blog posts last year to help athletes (like you!) see how they can apply the concepts of sport psychology and mental training to themselves and their own performances.

Your Mental Training assignment for January looks a little more like traditional homework because it requires you to do some reading (but don’t worry, I won’t make you turn in a book report!). We often think about continuing education when it comes to our jobs or careers, but not necessarily our athletic endeavors. If you want something to be different you have to do something different. If you want to evolve, you have to stretch and provide yourself with new experiences. Continuing education can spark ideas, increase motivation, and enhance confidence. It can provide you with new tools that help you up your mental game, which in turn ups your physical game.

I believe these five books should be on every athletes bookshelf. So your funwork is to pick at least one of these five books to read. When you’re motivated to learn, you’re more receptive to learning – so check them all out and see which one speaking to you the most in this moment.