How do you Manage Stress - Olympic teaches a lesson or two

Well, I was not at work this morning. Out sick and basically slept the entire day. Now I realize how tired I have been. Am I tired? Unmotivated? or Stressed out? Its eating into me :(

Tea @ Trump Tower?

Its often willpower, not just physical strength, that helps an athlete win. (The Straits Times, June Cheong) Indeed willpower is the key to want to suceed in any matters, but what do you do if you feel bruised and down? Where do you tap the energy to pick yourself up again?

Jog around Manhattan Apple Store?

Just be alone?


Be in tune with nature? (Upper East Side, Central Park)

It has been four months and three weeks. Have I really been happy? Enough of me. Today's Straits Times on Under Medal Stress is of relevance. "Olympians like Michael Phelps and Yao Ming may carry the weight of national expectations on their shoulders, but ordinary folk have to contend with other pressures - like looming w0rk deadlines, barking clients or late buses." Here are some tips summarized:

Bouncing back from mistakes

Sporting events are all about being faster, stronger and better than the competition. So athletes have to learn to snap back to form quickly after making an error. They are told not to dwell on past mistakes and to always seek closure.

One method Ms Andrea Furst, head of sports psychology at Singapore Sports Council, uses is to feed cue words to athletes such that when they think of these words, they stop the negative thought stream immediately. She said: "We teach athletes to use their thoughts to dictate their attitudes."

Goal setting

Learn to distinguish between what's within your control and what's not. Whenever pressure hits, negativity fills our mind much more easily. Instead of hitting the panic button, think clearly of what you need to do next and go back to what's within your control.

Learning to concentrate

Prior to the Olympics, China's sports system set up counselling websites, and introduced (among other things) meditation and yoga to help ease the athletes' pressure. Ms Furst: Learning how to meditate or control your breathing is fantastic for training your power to focus. If you can relax your mind, you can switch on and off at will.

Rest today, peak tomorrow

Athletes call it periodisation. They stress and rest their bodies in alternation constantly. People under long periods of stress should look at ways to relax, like running or having a good meal. Rest helps you to keep performing at your best and is not unproductive.

Hmm, rest.. thats what I am doing today...