In the pursuit of hockey excellence, many players fall into the trap of thinking that more effort, more time, and more sacrifice are the keys to winning. But what if the opposite is true? What if doing less—focusing only on what truly matters—could be the secret to reaching your peak performance?

Time is a fixed resource. You can't create more of it, and once it's spent, you can't get it back. This makes how you choose to spend your time incredibly important, especially when your goal is to perform at your best. Yet, many athletes unknowingly waste precious hours on activities that do nothing to further their goals. The first step to breaking this cycle is to ask yourself: "What am I doing too much of?" 

Identify Your Time Wasters

Take a moment to reflect on your daily routine. Are there activities that consume more time than they should, offering little in return? For many athletes, common culprits include:

• Too Much Screen Time:
  • Whether it’s playing video games, scrolling through social media, or binge-watching TV shows, excessive screen time is a major distraction. While it might offer short-term pleasure, it often leaves you feeling drained and less motivated to tackle your goals. Imagine if you cut this time in half—what could you achieve with those extra hours?
• Too Much Socializing:
  • Spending time with friends is important, but if your social life is eating into your training or recovery time, it might be time to reassess. Winning requires a certain level of focus and discipline, and that sometimes means saying no to social events that don't align with your goals.
• Too Much Multitasking:
  • Multitasking often feels productive, but it usually leads to scattered focus and mediocre results. If you find yourself juggling too many things at once, consider simplifying your schedule. Focus on one task at a time, and give it your full attention. You'll likely find that you complete tasks more efficiently and with better quality.

Freeing Up Time for the Winning Path

Once you've identified where you're spending too much time, the next step is to reallocate those hours towards activities that will actually help you win. Here’s how:

• Invest in Recovery:
  • Use the time you save to prioritize sleep, rest, and mental downtime. Your body needs these periods of recovery to adapt and improve. Without them, all your hard work in training could be undermined by fatigue and injury.
• Enhance Focused Practice:
  • With fewer distractions, you can dedicate more time to high-quality, focused training sessions. This doesn’t mean training longer, but rather training smarter. Concentrate on drills and exercises that directly improve your performance.
• Incorporate Mindfulness:
  • Use some of your reclaimed time to practice mindfulness or meditation. These practices can sharpen your focus, reduce stress, and enhance your mental resilience—critical components for success in any sport.

Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset

In the end, winning is not just about what you do—it's also about what you don't do. By cutting out the excess and focusing on what truly matters, you can make the most of your fixed amount of time. So, ask yourself: "What am I doing too much of?" The answer might just be the key to unlocking your full potential.

Rob Pallante

Mental Performance Coach

Mindset Body Bank Inc.