DUNCAN’S TOP MOTIVATION TIPS
We know at times it can be hard to find the motivation to do things that make you happy. After an exceptionally difficult few years for the swimming community, it’s can be hard to get your mojo back. So what can we do to make ourselves happier, more motivated and feel better about ourselves?
Olympic Gold Medalist and Swimathon Ambassador Duncan Goodhew explains “in many ways motivation is similar to happiness as both peak and trough depending on what life throws at us”. Duncan continues to say that “they are also usually linked as when things aren’t going our way we tend to feel less motivated to do what makes us happy”.
“Going swimming is a holiday from the harsh weight and literal gravity of the real world we live in. Both metaphorically and literally you throw off the baggage you are carrying around with you and also your clothing! You then enter the weightlessness, magical world of the water that supports and caresses you.“
Below you can find Duncan’s top tips for regaining your motivation and the best ways to supercharge your Swimathon challenge. Using just one of these tips will not only help increase your motivation but will also make you happier as Swim England have proven that habitual pool swimmers are over 4% happier than non swimmers.
Duncan’s Top 12 Swimathon Tips
You can’t celebrate your successes in life enough because nobody else will do it for you. Plan how you will celebrate. Whether it be celebrating your first length or your successful completion of your Swimathon Challenge, celebrate in style.
People matter. Celebrate your success with others you care about and that have supported you.
Feeling progress is essential. Being aware of and monitoring your improvements (physical, psychological and social) allows you to see the view from the mountain you have climbed and keeps you motivated to reach that next milestone
Learning more about the charities you are supporting gives you a greater understanding of how much you are helping others. Reading about inspirational stories can really fuel your motivation to succeed.
The gift of giving. Setting an end date for your fundraising so you can celebrate the special gift you are giving. Use the Swimathon fundraising incentives to see what you can unlock!
Proof of progress. Counting lengths and timing yourself allows you to see and feel your improved fitness - strength, speed and stamina.
Learning and developing gives us a sense of progress. This can be done by self study (ie researching stroke technique online and watching videos demonstrating technique and drills) and or getting some coaching from a qualified coach.
Let the child inside you out! The young child’s excitement and wonder around water is still within you so rediscover it - how it feels, the weightlessness of the water, and enjoy how it makes you feel.
Revelling in the life-giving beautiful substance - water. Take a moment before diving in and look at the water as if you are seeing it for the first time or perhaps as if you are sitting around a pool on holiday?
Self talk and positive reinforcement works. When you finish your training swims look back at the water and reflect on your swim, how far you’ve swum, how much better you feel….. By doing this you form a positive self talk cycle.
Confirmation. Before leaving the poolside say firmly to your self ‘I’ll be back’ as a statement of fact.
Most importantly, enjoy being in the water! If you’re not enjoying what you do, you will never feel motivated to do it again. Try new techniques, new games, new venues, to keep the love of swimming alive.
By enjoying your local swimming pool you are supporting the government funding your local swimming pool receives and therefore access to swimming for all.
Thank you for continuing to support the sport we all love and don’t forget to spread the word about Swimathon 2023!
If you’re struggling to get started with swimming, you might also like to read some more tips from our ambassadors
