How to Prepare Your Mind & Body for a Major Sporting Event [Infographic]
5 min read
Last Modified 22 July 2022 First Added 21 April 2015
‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ as the old saying goes, and that couldn’t be more true than in the case of a major sporting event. It’s not only your body but also your mind that needs to prepare for the sport.
Whether you’re doing your first 5km run or about to lead your team out for a big cup final, if you don’t prepare in the right way then you’re already giving your opponent a hefty advantage. Take a look at our infographic on how to prepare yourself for the 2 weeks leading up to a major sporting event, with advice on training, nutrition and, of course, sleep.
Scroll down for the full transcript, sources, and options to embed this infographic.
Physical preparation is crucial, but mindfulness is just as important for sporting success.
Preparing your body for any physical activity is important to help reduce the risk of injury and recovery time. Of course, you also want to ensure your body is up the challenge! It doesn’t matter if you’re preparing for a 400m running race, triathlon or joining a football team, here are three important things you need to concentrate on to elevate performance…
Try to bank some extra sleep – increasing sleep to 10 hours per night before events can improve athletic performance and minimize the impact of poor sleep the night before. On the day of a sports event take 20 minute nap about two hours before your event which should boost energy levels and performance
According to Dr Charles Czeisler, a Harvard sleep specialist, it’s the sleep after training that is most important. A good night’s sleep allows time for your body to rest and recover from any injuries encountered in training. A 2009 study by MIT showed that mice who had navigated a maze replayed new experiences in their brains as they slept – forming long term memories of what they’d learned. Proving the positive implications of sleep.
To ensure you optimise the benefits of sleep when planning to take part in a sports event, set a sleeping routine and make regular sleep a priority. Keep a sleep diary and manage your sleeping habits alongside your training and nutrition. Remember, a healthy body equals a healthy mind.
For more useful help and advice, speak to your fellow competitors, learn about how they train and what advice they can offer on preparing for your next major event. Or better still, buddy up to train together and offer support and motivation to one another.
Preparing for a major sporting event is the same as any other big occasion – you get out what you put in. So be smart and ensure that every second of preparation counts.
Do you have any tips on how to prepare for a major sporting event? If so, let us know in the comments below.