Ever feel like you are your own worst enemy? The bad news – it’s 💯 true. The good news – you can flip the tables to your advantage.

Unreasonably high personal expectations are one of the biggest things that hold athletes back. There’s a difference between wanting to be your best and setting our sights so high that we burn out.

The Solution: Set realistic, achievable goals. Break your big, long-term goals into smaller, manageable steps. Focus on making progress in each one. Remember, progress is progress, no matter how small it may seem.

Social pressure from following others is another sneaky trap. It’s easy to get caught up in what other people are doing. The result? We lose sight of our own goals and aspirations based on the journey others are taking.

The Solution: Focus on your own progress and ignore the noise around you. We are all on our own journey and what works for someone else may not work for you. Trust your plan (and stick to it) while being supportive of others.

Losing sight of the inputs that matter for your success is also a frequent trap. Obsession with outcomes overshadows the work that goes into making the results possible. Consequences include neglecting to properly fuel, short-changing rest, and neglecting to work on the mental aspects of performance.

The Solution: Monitor the daily actions you take to see which ones help create the outcomes you want. Discard the ones that don’t help, and keep the ones that do. This simple process will create a basic operating system for a better season.

Remember, you are in control of your own success, so take ownership of your journey and enjoy the ride.