Downhill mountain bikers have “a higher threshold for adrenaline and fear,” says sports psychologist Julie Emmermann. Other PhDs say mountain bikers should “have their heads checked,” “pray,” and “not fall off.” And some say that fear simply isn’t a factor, only fun. Achieving optimal physiological arousal, the psychologist’s phrase for “getting psyched up,” is a big part of the [...]
Article by Tim Herzog and Wendy Bay Lewis, published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle I don’t mean your company’s regulations… I mean yours. Huh? “Self-regulation” refers to a state of calm but alert, possessing situational awareness and feeling even-keeled. Dysregulation, on the other hand, is a state of narrow focus, where (whether you want to admit it or not) [...]
A periodized mental training plan, customized to align with the training needs of the team, is formulated through discussion with coaches and adapted over time. The preparatory phase consists of interactive seminars, where each week builds on the previous session. A fundamental knowledge (and vocabulary) of mental skills is developed. Following, an individualized mental skills training plan is developed [...]
Sam had a resume as varied, but far more interesting, than a Eurasian restaurant menu. She knew Mandarin, had studied Confucian literature, was a tour guide in Italy, and captained multiple transpacific voyages. She was certain that her dilettante past would be a barrier to beginning a “professional” career. Research indicates that people tend to leave employers after four [...]
Every sport has its own unique mental components. In a sport like golf, we control the pace of much of the action, but in a sport like freestyle skiing, with its aerials and moguls, the pace is so fast that skiers are that much more at the mercy of the mountain. They have to accept what is coming their [...]
If you’re experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it’s important to understand how the different parts of your brain function. Post-traumatic stress is a normal response to traumatic events. However, PTSD is a more serious condition that impacts brain function, and it often results from traumas experienced during combat, disasters, or violence. Your brain is equipped with an alarm system [...]
It’s a good idea to have a choice of coping strategies to meet the specific needs of each situation you face—some “problem-focused” and some “emotion-focused.” During severe stress, you might find that your old ways of dealing with problems aren’t doing enough to help. For example, your preferred way of coping in the past might have been venting to [...]
This column is inspired by my dear friend and colleague, Wendy Bay Lewis (1949-2013). Through the vehicle of this column, Wendy and I often tried to share wisdom or insights with our community. Our column started out titled, “Work Matters,” and became “Business Matters.” If we kept it going, we might have lobbied for “Life Matters” and “Death Matters.” [...]
During the pinnacle of his career, Tiger Woods said in reference to his peak performance moments, “…for me, it just happens, I just get out of my own way and let the training just take over.” Sometimes referred to in the media as “being in the Zone,” athletes are often recognized for experiencing “Flow” states. Flow is the research [...]
Changing careers can be stressful at any time in your life. When you add the recession, and lack tech-savvy skills for today's job market, your stress level may go through the roof. You can keep your stress under control by recognizing that career change is a process, it takes time, and it progresses in different stages. Know Thyself Just [...]
Stanford professor and career coach John Krumboltz coined the term “planned happenstance” years ago, but the concept is becoming more applicable than ever in today’s ever-changing job market. Reflecting on my own trajectory, and speaking with others in Bozeman, illustrations of the theory in action are abundant. Engage your passions The theory deconstructs old school notions, such as: work [...]
Martial arts training develops key areas of athletic fitness: strength, speed, agility, flexibility, and stamina. This is especially true of modern Taekwondo, with its noted emphasis on kicking. But did you know that martial arts training is also a good way to become a better skier? A major conditioning factor in martial arts is that training tends to be [...]
Anniversaries of loss sometimes have a way of creeping up on us. Often times, around the same time each year, I notice myself getting a little sad or a little grumpy, and I can’t think why… And then at some point it occurs to me that it is once again the anniversary of my mother’s death. Several years after [...]
A recent study on a species of birds, discussed on NPR, suggested that when one generation has abundant resources available for their young, the next generation, lacks work ethic. Is this a matter of parenting style? Doesn’t seem to be. Psychologist Jean Twenge, who authored Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable than [...]
Starting or returning to college is a lot to get used to, even if you already know your way around. Here are a few concrete tips to get off on the right foot this year. Sleep (There Is No Better Fuel) If you want to be alert through the day, you need eight hours of sleep. With fewer than [...]
