Competition is nerve-racking, and a strong work ethic is difficult to keep in hand. There are certain mindsets that I have found to combat the inevitable procrastination and quitting in all of us. I play tennis. I will attest I am not good at tennis; however, I do not give up trying. It’s easy to give up when playing a sport. When the score is looking stark, the time is running out, and you’re tired— I understand how easy it is to stop. |
Read about some of the sports that use this mindset |
My mindset is ‘the past is done’. The mistakes you made earlier in the game have already happened. The anger you feel is not helpful. At any point, you can take a breath, and think only of your next action— not any action before. It’s easier said than done, to just ‘not be angry.’
When I feel upset over my score, or my mistakes, I think about the future, possibly a week or month into the future. I will not be in anguish over a ball hit out of bounds then.
If I am losing gravely, I treat each play as a new one. Even when I’m losing, I remember I am there to play. Even if I am bad, there is nothing worse than quitting.
Until the game is entirely over, neither person or team has won. In tennis, I have watched people come back from terrible backsets. In volleyball, I’ve seen games stretch into a fifth fighting chance. You decide when the competition is over.
When I feel upset over my score, or my mistakes, I think about the future, possibly a week or month into the future. I will not be in anguish over a ball hit out of bounds then.
If I am losing gravely, I treat each play as a new one. Even when I’m losing, I remember I am there to play. Even if I am bad, there is nothing worse than quitting.
Until the game is entirely over, neither person or team has won. In tennis, I have watched people come back from terrible backsets. In volleyball, I’ve seen games stretch into a fifth fighting chance. You decide when the competition is over.
This mindset should be kept with school as well. Your grades today are reflective only of your past actions. There is no amount of bargaining or self-anger that can fix them. It is best to take a breath, and treat each test and homework as it is— a brand new start.
When the stress of your previous work is weighing on you, remember that in a year's time you will never recount a specific mark on a test you have received. There is no control over what has happened; however, there is control over what you will do.
There is no advantage of wallowing in something that is already done. Maybe you failed a test or forgot your homework, yet engulfing yourself with guilt will not give you a better score or magically set your homework in your hands.
Mistakes and hiccups are a learning experience. Take them with gratitude. When I miss the ball entirely with my racquet, I note that next time, I’ll watch my racquet all the way to the ball.
When you fail your test, you can note exactly what was difficult. Maybe you aren’t good at distinguishing the differences between specific terms, which can guide you in your studies next test. If you have difficulty remembering your homework, maybe you can set aside a time every night to pack your bag for the next day.
What is most important is that trying is better than anything else. A zero is much worse than anything else, whether it be on the scoreboard or in PowerSchool.
The best way to succeed is to learn to accept defeats. I don’t mean to allow yourself to fail every class and sport, but rather instead of sulking in every mistake, take them as the most gracious learning experiences.
When the stress of your previous work is weighing on you, remember that in a year's time you will never recount a specific mark on a test you have received. There is no control over what has happened; however, there is control over what you will do.
There is no advantage of wallowing in something that is already done. Maybe you failed a test or forgot your homework, yet engulfing yourself with guilt will not give you a better score or magically set your homework in your hands.
Mistakes and hiccups are a learning experience. Take them with gratitude. When I miss the ball entirely with my racquet, I note that next time, I’ll watch my racquet all the way to the ball.
When you fail your test, you can note exactly what was difficult. Maybe you aren’t good at distinguishing the differences between specific terms, which can guide you in your studies next test. If you have difficulty remembering your homework, maybe you can set aside a time every night to pack your bag for the next day.
What is most important is that trying is better than anything else. A zero is much worse than anything else, whether it be on the scoreboard or in PowerSchool.
The best way to succeed is to learn to accept defeats. I don’t mean to allow yourself to fail every class and sport, but rather instead of sulking in every mistake, take them as the most gracious learning experiences.