Why you should approach mental health like an elite athlete

Mental Skills for Everyday Life

Professional athletes don’t just train their bodies—they also invest heavily in their mental performance. Through specialised coaching, they work on confidence, focus, and resilience to help them perform under pressure. At BetterCare, we draw on similar evidence-based principles through psychotherapy in Ireland to support clients’ mental health and everyday functioning.

Many of the strategies used by elite athletes can be applied to everyday life. Techniques such as visualisation, attentional control, and cognitive reframing can be used at work, in study, and in personal life. Research consistently shows that even brief training in mental skills can lead to meaningful improvements in focus, emotional regulation, and performance, particularly during stressful or high-pressure situations.

By learning how to regulate attention, respond more flexibly to unhelpful thoughts, and build psychological resilience, it becomes easier to stay calm and engaged rather than overwhelmed. Whether you’re preparing for an important presentation, studying for exams, or managing daily stressors, these techniques can help you stay calm, focused, and resilient.

Visualise the Most Crucial Moments

Athletes often mentally rehearse success, imagining their actions ahead of time. This activates the same brain areas used during actual performance, reinforcing skills and reducing anxiety.

We support clients in applying visualisation in practical, everyday ways:

• Start small: Begin by imagining the successful outcome or final moment.
• Build gradually: Work backwards, adding each step until you can clearly picture the entire task.
• Focus on challenges: Spend extra time on the parts that make you most anxious.

For example, if you’re preparing for a work presentation, mentally rehearsing each key stage—from opening your slides to answering questions—can increase confidence and reduce nerves. Visualisation is a simple but effective mental skill that can support performance and wellbeing in many areas of life. Visualisation isn’t just for athletes—it’s a powerful mental performance tool for anyone.

Control the Controllables

Elite athletes know they can’t control everything—such as crowds, referees, or unexpected disruptions—but they can control their effort, preparation, and mindset. Focusing on these controllable factors helps them stay grounded and perform consistently under pressure.

Learning to apply this principle reduces mental strain and builds resilience by shifting attention away from what’s outside your control. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by external pressures, you focus your energy where it can make the greatest difference.

In everyday life, this approach is just as valuable. When stress rises, try asking yourself: “What can I influence right now?” Whether you’re at work, studying, or managing personal responsibilities, practising this skill can improve concentration, emotional regulation, and performance under pressure.

Separate Performance from Identity

When self-worth is tied too closely to outcomes, setbacks can feel overwhelming. Psychotherapy can help clients separate their sense of identity from performance, turning mistakes into opportunities for learning rather than reflections of personal value.

Reframing in everyday life might look like this:

Instead of: “I failed at this task, so I’m not good at my job.”

Try: “I made a mistake because I rushed; I can adjust my approach next time.”

This simple shift in thinking strengthens resilience, maintains confidence, and improves focus—even when facing challenges. By seeing performance as distinct from personal worth, it becomes easier to learn, grow, and move forward without self-criticism.

Let Go and Move Forward

Athletes know when to reflect, learn, and then move on. Psychotherapy teaches a similar approach: observe what happened, review it objectively, and redirect attention to what matters next.

Daily practices like brief pauses, mindfulness, or journaling can help prevent rumination, reduce stress, and support ongoing mental well-being. Learning to let go of mistakes quickly allows you to maintain focus, productivity, and emotional balance.

If you’re working from home and get stuck on a problem, try pausing to lie on the floor for a few minutes, grab a glass of water, or do a brief stretch from your chair to cue your brain and body that it’s time to shift gears.

How Psychotherapy Can Help in Everyday Life

At BetterCare, we offer mental performance coaching through psychotherapy in Ireland. Our trained therapists work with clients to:

• Manage anxiety and stress
• Improve focus and concentration
• Build resilience and coping skills
• Apply mental performance strategies to work, study, or personal life

These techniques are practical, evidence-based, and tailored to your unique needs. By integrating mental skills into daily life, you can improve performance, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.

Whether you prefer online sessions from the comfort of your home or face-to-face appointments at one of our growing number of locations, BetterCare offers professional, affordable counselling and psychotherapy designed to help you thrive—both mentally and emotionally.