[Sports psychology] - Pogacar and burnout

[Webbo2]

Different sport.
But Scottie Scheffler, the No1 golfer who just won the Open and is worth $100mill has spoken openly about a lack of fulfilment in sport.

A professional sportsperson puts all their effort into achieving their goals, and when they conquer their goals some find it isn’t as life defining or important as they thought it would be.

When you break it down, sport really isn’t very meaningful. And can you really be bothered to put yourself through the endless training and practice just to win something you’ve already won?

I have always admired Bjorn Borg, who quit tennis at the top, aged 26 with many years of success ahead of him.

You could say working for a living isn’t very meaningful but most of us have to put up with it for at least 40 years.

 

[Beebo]

You could say working for a living isn’t very meaningful but most of us have to put up with it for at least 40 years.

But how many of us are giving 100% ultra focus at work? And would we still do it if we had millions in the bank.

 

[Webbo2]

But how many of us are giving 100% ultra focus at work? And would we still do it if we had millions in the bank.

I guess that depends on your profession. For some of us don’t give 100%, make a mistake and get struck off. Then I guess you wouldn’t be working for 40 years.😉

 

[Pblakeney]

When you break it down, sport really isn’t very meaningful. And can you really be bothered to put yourself through the endless training and practice just to win something you’ve already won?

Whilst I kinda agree, when that point is reached then it is time to redefine the goals; not simply repeat them.
No others available? Time to quit.

 

[Pblakeney]

But how many of us are giving 100% ultra focus at work? And would we still do it if we had millions in the bank.

I did while I was at work. Being a self employed consultant likely to get binned if performance drops will focus the mind. 😉
That said, I retired ASAP. Then again, I wouldn't call what I did for a living a hobby. Key question, would Pog get on a bike once retired?

 

[Mike Ayling]

I guess that depends on your profession. For some of us don’t give 100%, make a mistake and get struck off. Then I guess you wouldn’t be working for 40 years.😉

Being "Struck Off"
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand no longer maintains Membership records with pen and ink in leather bound ledgers so instead of striking off the name of a delinquent member they simply advise that so and so's Membership has been cancelled.

 

[Webbo2]

Being "Struck Off"
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand no longer maintains Membership records with pen and ink in leather bound ledgers so instead of striking off the name of a delinquent member they simply advise that so and so's Membership has been cancelled.

I suppose these days it’s being “ Removed from the register“

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Different sport.
But Scottie Scheffler, the No1 golfer who just won the Open and is worth $100mill has spoken openly about a lack of fulfilment in sport.

A professional sportsperson puts all their effort into achieving their goals, and when they conquer their goals some find it isn’t as life defining or important as they thought it would be.

When you break it down, sport really isn’t very meaningful. And can you really be bothered to put yourself through the endless training and practice just to win something you’ve already won?

I have always admired Bjorn Borg, who quit tennis at the top, aged 26 with many years of success ahead of him.

Graeme Obree talked about something that's the other side of this - for him, winning was pretty much an addiction to not losing. No win was ever enough because there was always a race to lose the next week. He got next to no actual validation for himself for winning, but was terrified of being invalidated by a loss. There are a lot of psychological traits that can build a winner, but that one in particular is seriously unhealthy (as he found out the very hard way).

 

[presta]

Graeme Obree talked about something that's the other side of this - for him, winning was pretty much an addiction to not losing.

For me, the addiction was beating my PB. Every ride had to be a new record, further or faster. It's easy at first, and the new PBs come thick and fast, but soon the direction of change goes the other way, so you train more, and get caught up in a vicious cycle of poor performance>more training>worse performance>even more training. Eventually, by the end I was arriving home from every ride in a foul temper.

What makes matters worse is the advice to get more exercise, and the fact that the symptoms of chronic fatigue don't feel like fatigue.