Are you interested in knowing how to be an athlete? With some commitment and sweat, you can become the athlete you’ve always wanted to be. All you need to do is make a plan to get started.

Read on to learn 5 tips that will help you transform into an athlete!

1. Stay Positive About the Future

A big part of doing anything well is being able to maintain a positive outlook. It’s inevitable that you’ll hit some roadblocks along the way, but you need to keep your mind upbeat and positive throughout it all. This is something that you can work on, too, if you’re not normally inclined toward thinking positively. 

There are many strategies you can use to stay positive in your quest to become a great athlete. Smile more, share your progress with loved ones, celebrate achievements, and maintain a blog to document the ups and downs.

Doing these things will keep your mind in the right zone so your plans aren’t derailed. And it will turn your friends and family into cheerleaders who help you succeed.

Find a friend or workout buddy to keep you in check. When someone else is aware of what your long-range plans are, they can remind you when you start to slip. 

2. Put in the Time

The bottom line is that a successful athlete puts in the time. If you’re truly committed to becoming a great athlete, you’ll need to carve out a few hours each day to put toward training. And you’ll want to put in the time to know what type of workout regime will help you improve.

Try to maintain a balanced routine. Do aerobic exercise to build cardiovascular health and strength training to develop your muscles — and some skill-based exercises that are unique to your favorite sport. Plot out your workout schedule in a calendar to stay organized.

With lots of hours at the gym comes the possibility of injury. The last thing you want to do is stress your body to a point where it won’t function well — and you’re unable to stay the course. This is why physical therapy is a great addition for any athlete who wants to keep their body loose and limber. 

3. Approach Everything with Purpose

When you approach everything with purpose, you’re actively seeking connections among all that you do. You want to know how each workout fits in the big picture. And you want to know how it will help you meet your ultimate goal.

It’s important to be mindful of the bigger picture. Don’t get hung up on the details, particularly when you’re having a bad workout. Bad workouts or moments of cheating on your dietary goals will happen, but you need to take them in stride. Understand that it all feeds into a bigger purpose.

Knowing how to become a great athlete involves steeling yourself when in challenging circumstances. You’ll feel more motivated to go for that jog on a rainy night if you can stay focused on how it contributes to your overarching goals.

If it’s helpful, keep a journal. Write down the reasons for each day’s workout. And develop a mantra that you can keep in mind to keep your focus on the purpose of what you’re doing.

4. Build the Right Diet for Success

Another key to knowing how to be a great athlete? A balanced and nutritious diet will help! Take stock of your current food intake and determine what changes will help you become the lean, energetic athlete you want to be.

Put together a diet that is rich in protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Protein can be found in foods like almonds, fish, meat, and eggs. It keeps your muscles, tissues, and bones strong. 

Fruits and vegetables supply your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. In short, if you map out a diet that is balanced, you’ll be fortified and ready to be a better athlete. Stay away from refined sugars and alcoholic beverages, which contribute to weight gain and sluggishness.

While you’re at it, aim to drink about 8 glasses of water each day. Water flushes your system and keeps your energy levels up. It also helps you feel full so you won’t be as tempted to reach for that bag of candy.

5. Wondering How to Be an Athlete? Set Goals

Ultimately, you need to set goals if you want to become a top athlete. Even if you’re full of motivation in the beginning of your journey, you might hit plateaus that could throw you off your game. When you set goals with concrete deadlines, you’re less likely to fall off track.

Write down your goals, too. If they’re just fleeting thoughts, you won’t be accountable to them. Create a journal where you can plot out a few goals, such as a training regiment for a marathon or swim relay. And check things off your list as you achieve them!

Goals need to be measurable. Write down a specific time that you’re hoping to hit for a lap around the track, or a certain weight that you want to bench press. You’ll feed off the good feeling of achieving these goals, and they’ll propel you toward bigger ones.

Become a Great Athlete

Knowing how to be an athlete means putting in the time and committing to some lifestyle changes that will put you on the path to greatness. You have to set reasonable goals for yourself and find a trusted friend or teammate to hold you accountable. Map out a plan with specific benchmarks — and make it happen!

For more unique content on anything from fitness to science, check back for new and informative articles.