Life lessons in the pool: Swimming my way to success!

  





Every lap is a lesson overcoming challenges. Every race, a chapter in the ongoing narrative of self-discovery. Hello readers, today I am going to be sharing my 5 lessons that I learnt through my 2024 long course swimming season.

1. Mental preparation


I struggled to grasp the concept of mental preparation. To me, it meant strategizing about my upcoming swim meet, focusing on potential time drops, and developing race plans. Previously, I only started preparing 2 days before a competition, relying on my dad's reminders about stretching and tracking my times. Unfortunately, my last swim meet resulted in slower times across four events, mainly due to lack of mental preparation. This taught me that you have to think, revise, change your strategies.


2. Reflection


By conducting a thorough self-evaluation of your race performance and seeking feedback from your coaches, you've taken a first step in the reflection process. After my swim meet I really didn’t think much about my race. I just kept quiet and didn’t think about it. Merging these perspectives and your own insights enables you to pinpoint areas for improvement even before you dive back into the pool. Effective reflection extends beyond analyzing race tactics; it encompasses examining pre-race preparation, such as the importance of stretching.


3. Distraction


Distractions pose a significant challenge. Two primary sources of disruption emerge within the competitive swimming environment. The first stems from external pressures, particularly the attempts of fellow competitors to break an athlete's concentration. The second type of distraction originates from within the swimmer themselves. Engaging in extraneous thoughts or activities during periods of critical concentration can prove equally detrimental. I started a conversation myself, I was talking to my friends before my race and I was causing a distraction.


4. Overconfidence


Overconfidence is not good. This overconfidence can manifest in various ways, such as when I become too sure of how my race is going to go or I’m the fastest in my heat. It's important for me to not think too much and talk about my speed a lot.


5. Embarrassment


Embarrassment feels completely out of place in my normal life, but it's especially magnified during swim meets. Unlike the familiar comfort of everyday interactions, the high-pressure environment of a competition amplifies my discomfort. This is particularly evident when my dad's loud, detailed commentary about my race makes me retreat into myself, seeking any available hiding spot to escape the overwhelming sense of awkwardness. From this I learnt that embarrassment is not okay because it hurts the person you are embarrassed of.


My competitive swimming journey has been more than just laps in the pool; it has been a path for personal growth. The lessons learned extend far beyond the pool, equipping me with the tools to improve my skill. As I embark on my next swim season, I am grateful for the invaluable experiences and the strong foundation swimming has provided.


I would really love to hear your feedback and comments. Please reach out to me@hanikachhajer.com.

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