In this podcast, Lewis discusses athlete burnout and how to manage and avoid it. He explores the signs and causes of burnout, emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and stress management, and suggests incorporating mindfulness and setting healthy boundaries. Lewis also highlights the significance of finding balance in training, taking breaks, and listening to one's body. The episode introduces the Sport Yogi app as a resource for mindfulness and relaxation practices.
Recognizing signs of burnout and taking action is crucial to combat athlete burnout.
Factors such as overtraining, stress, and negative influences can contribute to athlete burnout, emphasizing the importance of managing these areas in order to prevent it.
Deep dives
Signs of Athlete Burnout
Athlete burnout is discussed in this episode, highlighting the importance of recognizing the signs and taking action to combat it. The host shares his own experience with burnout, explaining that it can manifest in various ways, including physical and psychological symptoms. Signs of burnout mentioned include overtraining, decreased motivation, fatigue, negative self-talk, mood swings, and physical injuries. It is emphasized that awareness is key in preventing burnout, and practices such as mindfulness meditation and body scans are recommended for checking in with the body, mind, and emotions. The episode also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between burnout and simply being tired, and offers insights into managing and recovering from burnout.
Causes and Impact of Burnout
The episode explores the causes and impact of burnout, discussing various factors that can contribute to its development. It is mentioned that burnout can be caused by factors such as overtraining, high levels of stress, and consuming negative information or engaging with negative individuals. The host highlights the importance of recognizing the different areas of life that can impact stress levels, including training, activities outside of training, diet, and social circle. The episode emphasizes the need to be mindful of these factors and their impact on stress levels. It also highlights the potential consequences of unchecked burnout, such as long-term injuries and breakdowns.
Building Awareness and Managing Burnout
The episode provides insights into building awareness of burnout and offers strategies for managing and preventing it. It stresses the importance of mindfulness practices, such as mindfulness meditation, for cultivating awareness of one's body, mind, and emotions. The host encourages listeners to regularly check in with themselves and recognize where their limits lie. It is suggested that finding a balance between pushing oneself and allowing for recovery is crucial in avoiding burnout. Examples are given, such as adjusting training intensity, incorporating active recovery periods, and taking breaks to prevent mental fatigue. The episode concludes with the message of working hard but recovering harder, and highlights the benefits of being smart and mindful in training to ensure consistency and longevity.
Lewis discusses the signs of athlete burnout, reasons for its causes, how it can be managed and avoided.
In this episode:
Introduction [0:00]
Lewis talks about the difference between the burnout he feels now as a retired athlete versus when he was still a professional.[1:45]
Lewis recalls that in the presence of stress, he felt ill physically. [3:41]
Overtraining can lead to burnout. [6:39]
Signs of burnout. [7:20]
Causes of burnout. [9:18]
Knowing the difference between being tired of being burned out. [10:29]
Stress creates change. [10:55]
Practice mindfulness as a check-in process. [13:09]
Set healthy boundaries to avoid burnout. [14:15]
Tip: Do a quick body scan. [16:03]
Check if your training is leading you to burnout. [17:57]
Work hard, recover harder. [21:45]
This episode is sponsored by Sport Yogi. Available on iOS & Android Bring Yoga, Mindfulness & Meditation for Athletes to your team by signing up to Sport Yogi Teams at sportyogi.com/teams