January is the month of renewal, of resolutions… but it’s also a time when you want to stay at home with a hot chocolate and a good book. Maybe you made some resolutions three weeks ago? Can you hold them?

Fortunately, it’s possible to beat the winter blues and get back into physical and mental shape… without neglecting the fun!

In my practice, I have seen how many personal reasons there are for moving more. Do you want to run a half marathon? Do you want to be able to play more with your children? Would you like to have more energy at work?

Knowing what motivates you is your key to success in achieving your goals. After all, sport is as much psychological as it is physical! It all adds up. That’s why knowing where you’re starting from is essential to defining your goals.

Having one of our accredited professionals evaluate your physical condition will put you on the right path and allow you to quantify your results.

Combining the useful with the pleasant

I can’t stress enough how important it is to choose sports activities that contribute to both your health and happiness! For many, a trip to the gym is enough motivation to brave the cold. For others, it is a necessary effort to reach their goal.

Do you like dancing? Consider a Zumba class. Are you competitive? Sign up for an indoor soccer league. Are you curious? Try a new sport like capoeira or rock climbing.

With the right physical activity, you’ll find that even when it’s -20, you’ll want to get out and others will want to share your excitement!

Surround yourself well

Practicing a sport or physical training is always more enjoyable in a group. The social aspect is a huge motivator, if only because you can share your goals.

A simple and effective trick is to invite family members or close friends to play sports with you. Their support will motivate you on those Tuesday nights when you want to stay warm and watch your favorite series on repeat!

Playing sports is a great way to be more positive and have more energy, we keep saying. Resolve to enjoy the moment and make physical activity work for you, not your resolutions. You will get much better results!

If you are experiencing pain during your favourite physical activity, it may be advisable to consult one of our accredited Biotonix posture specialists.

Do not hesitate to contact us!

In psychology, the term “flow” is often used to refer to a state where a person is fully engaged. For an athlete, it means isolating himself from the world and relying solely on the muscle memory he has built up through training.

This state of perfect concentration is linked to two elements: the feeling of the level of competence and the feeling of the level of the challenge. When the challenge is high level, such as an Olympic final, and the athlete feels competent, he or she is in the “flow” zone.

You would think that it would be easy for an athlete used to great performances, but I can assure you that it is not always the case. Since flow is related to feelings of competence and challenge, it is influenced by the athlete’s psychological state.

For example, a snowboarder who had a poor performance at his last competition may feel fear or anxiety, even though he was at the top of his game last year.

The importance of knowing yourself

In these circumstances, loved ones, coaches and training partners can be as much a source of motivation as a distraction. So do opponents, the media and supporters.

It is in these situations that sports psychologists intervene. They help the athlete determine what influences his or her motivation, confidence and focus. He can then progress and feel better in his head and body.

I’ve always been impressed by athletes who manage to maintain their concentration in all circumstances. We remember the exceptional strength of character of Joannie Rochette at the 2010 Games. Not everyone can do this, even Olympic athletes!

Even if we are not international athletes, I believe that we can all apply “flow” in our personal, sporting and professional lives. By adjusting the difficulty of our challenges according to our skills, it is possible to find a balance where we can flourish and grow.

Think like an athlete!

In order to perform at your best, you must go through the same steps as an athlete, namely :

• Know the steps that allow you to align your goals, efforts and behaviors towards your success;
• explore the impact of your thoughts and emotions and your brain to learn how to control and optimize them.

In the experiential workshop Winning Strategies, which I present with neuropsychologist Johanne Lévesque, we help you discover your personality type, your competitor type, and your cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

With this information, you will be able to make a more detailed plan of your goals and take the steps to achieve them.