Just, “Don’t think”. Well, that doesn’t work. Instead, choose a clear simple cue.
I recently came across a video of a training session with a coach whom I really respect.
The coach yelled, “Go! Go!”
They were conducting an agility/coordination drill.
One athlete hesitated, and the coach shouted, “Don’t think!”
I get the gist of what he was saying, “Don’t overthink it and don’t give yourself enough time to worry. Let your body take over.”
But we can do better. It’s a common idea or phrase that can be easily replaced with phrases that are much more likely to positively impact and increase performance.
First, let’s examine the problems with “Don’t think.” The idea about thinking and its impact on skill execution is right on. Overthinking and worrying, or to put it another way, athletes’ inability to focus clearly on the present has significant impacts on all sports and skills, even in everyday life. But, if you have ever tried “not thinking,” it doesn’t really work. I work from a mindfulness-based perspective. Thoughts will come and go, but it’s not about keeping those thoughts out; it’s about choosing your focus and staying with that focus regardless of other distracting thoughts.
So, what to focus on? A simple internal or external cue is a very effective way to focus. Your cue should fill your mind with what you want--not what you don’t want. It’s much easier to think about what you want to do versus all the things you don’t want to do.
Research shows that in experts, a simple external cue is most effective. An example is an athlete focusing on the golf club’s angle or the ball’s placement in the soccer net. Research also indicates that when an athlete is still learning a skill, a simple internal cue is most effective. An example is an athlete focusing on their grip or arms in golf and locking the leg and foot before a shot in soccer. Using these two ideas, you choose the most effective focus based on your skill level. You will have the best chance to effectively execute the skill given a reasonable amount of practice repetitions that align with your goals.
To come full circle, and as an added benefit, practicing this clear focus of a narrow internal cue (for beginners) or narrow external cue (for experts) can lead to more experiences of flow or “being in the zone,” which often feels like not thinking. This phenomenon happens because to hold a focus as described above, you practice and use mindfulness, allowing those pesky worries and doubts to just pass through your head. The more they just pass, the less hold they have on you, and the more concentration you have. This clear focus better sets the stage for your mind and body to be in balance with each other, which helps you feel those, oh, so addictive sensations of effortless skill, time slowing down, and the deep fun of flow.
So, next time don’t worry about “not thinking;” instead, focus on a clear simple cue, choosing to bring your mind back to that cue no matter what. You will rock your training session.
Ready to learn more? Check out my pages for elite youth and those who seek consistency or message me today to get started learning to choose your focus when it matters most.
