While running might be my ‘therapy’ I can certainly say that it also occasionally results in a wry smile as I pound the pavements and parks throughout the cities and towns I run through.  Traditionally I am a fan of cues to help the mind focus on helpful, productive aspects of endurance runs.  These days, […]

There are very few movies that truly dive into the depths of an elite performer’s mind.  Whiplash is one such movie. I watched it on the plane coming back from Australia in mid August…twice.  The acting captured me as did the way the characters depicted the ruthless perfectionism that is so frequently an ingredient associated with high […]

Train your brain like you train your body. This is not a new piece of advice nor is it particularly sexy, but it has merit when it comes to getting your brain ready to perform when it counts. However, training your brain is something to avoid getting blazé about given the increasing body of knowledge […]

There’s been a lot of commentary in the media recently about the lack of support that elite athletes receive when it comes to their mental health.  At Mental Notes Consulting, we are, and have always been passionate about athlete health and wellbeing alongside their performance. Part of our role in working with athletes and their […]

Performance routines are prevalent in high performance arenas, and in particular elite sport. You’ll often hear athletes refer to their rituals, superstitions, or lucky charms… “I keep a lucky red rag in my pocket when I bat, which has been a good luck charm for a few years.” – Steve Waugh Simply put, athletes often integrate […]

As many elite athletes are preparing to peak at international competitions in the Northern Hemisphere it’s a valuable time to reflect on how much time is being dedicated to psychological recovery as you prepare to perform when it counts… It’s becoming an increasingly important aspect of elite athlete training and preparation as we ask more […]

Sleeping is an everyday ritual that is essential to our daily lives; without the right amount of sleep we are unable to function effectively.  From a very early age we begin to form sleeping habits and patterns.  These are the habits that we will take through to our adolescent and adult years so it essential […]

It is generally accepted that children are naturally physically active.  If you watch children in a park or in a playground they typically enjoy running, climbing, swinging, jumping – being able to challenge their physical abilities whilst having fun.  What you may not realise is that these natural physical abilities and what we class as […]

There has been a lot of discussion in both the media and around the school gates about the increased pressures that youths are facing in their school, family, and social lives.  The youth of today are experiencing increasing amounts of stress as their worlds are more demanding than ever before.  This is due to the […]