Anyone who regularly plays sports or exercises will likely have a constant desire to up their game. It’s part of what makes it enjoyable, after all. Being able to better yourself and aim for bigger goals is what motivates people to get up and get moving. This is also the way our body develops and improves, as it becomes accustomed to more strain and hard work.
Improving your sports performance isn’t as simple as trying harder, however. You can go for a run three times a week, but sometimes you just won’t be able to beat your previous best time. It’s not always about your willpower and effort; sometimes you have to consider the factors off the track or field to truly start to see some improvement. But what are these factors?
Improve Your Eyesight
This is one that can have major benefits but often isn’t talked about. Your eyes are perhaps your most important tool for any sport. You may think that your eyesight is perfectly fine, and that it has no implication on your sports performance; but you could be surprised with how much your eyesight can improve. This could lead to better vision down the pitch, clearer sight when running, and just better overall hand-eye coordination.
Many people develop cataracts which can affect their eyesight, both on and off the field. This may not seem like a major factor at the time, but you will benefit massively from getting them removed. The most effective way is to undergo cataract surgery. The benefits of cataract surgery are undeniable, and your sports performance will thank you for it.
Track Your Performance
You can’t expect to improve your sports performance if you are not tracking your progress. For example, if you are a runner, it’s not much good to just say you’ll run to the end of the road every second day. At the end of the week what will you have to analyze? The only statistic that you will know is that you ran the same distance every time. You need to track time and other statistics so that you can set new goals everyday and try to better yourself. Although you may not achieve them every single day, it is important to have a goal to strive for.
Hydrate
Your body needs water, and lots of it, frankly. If you are neglecting proper hydration, it is without a doubt going to come back to haunt you in terms of your sports performance. When you are working out, your body gets dehydrated very easily. You need to constantly rehydrate yourself in order to prevent this from happening. If you don’t, your body won’t be able to function properly, and fatigue and cramp will set in very quickly.
Rest Properly
The importance of rest days cannot be ignored. Working out everyday may seem beneficial to some, but it will definitely do more harm than good in the long run. Rest days should be at least twice a week, with a good diet and plenty of water consumed on said days. If you do not rest properly, you cannot recover. If you do not recover properly, your body won’t even be able to perform at the same level it did the previous time, let alone make any improvements.
