First of all, I want to apologize for how inconsistent my blog posts have been as of late. I have been spending a lot of time studying for my MAT mid-term, which has kept me from keeping this blog up-to-date. Postings should resume to a more normal schedule in the next couple of weeks, however.
Okay so today I want to let you in on a technique that I have used pretty consistently in the past that has allowed me greater focus and productivity throughout my day. I first got the idea after hearing about the wonders hypnosis was having for a friend of mine. Because I didn't want to go see a hypn0therapist, however, I experimented with another idea--silent imaging.
Essentially, what I do is I turn off all of the lights and anything that could make noise. I then set a time for ten to fifteen minutes and I lay down flat on my back in a comfortable, anatomical position with my eyes closed. I focus on breathing through my nose, and then I clear my mind of everything except what it is I want to focus on for that day. When I started, I would imagine my facility--what I want it to look like, the floor layout, the exact square footage, how all of the equipment would be aligned. Then, I pictured myself moving in the facility and then performing daily tasks.
This all happened over the course of a number of months. I would try to get as absolutely detailed as possible with every aspect before moving on to the next. A lot of times I would end up falling asleep before the timer went off. When I would awake, I would feel refreshed and very, very excited to get working on my projects. My productivity during the times of my silent imaging soared, and every day I was excited to keep grinding on my work. The silent imaging was done on a daily basis for a while, then I cut it back to a few times a week. Now I do it every once in a while, not because I don't want to, but more because I am able to get the same benefits as before with doing it less frequently because I have programmed myself into a routine and I have a clear picture of what I am trying to achieve. That being said, though, I think I could definitely use another round after the last month.
Silent imaging is a technique that I highly recommend if you are having trouble accomplishing what you want to. Think about what it is that you desire, think about every single aspect of it, and then let that image carry you and you press forward with action.
Charlie Cates, CSCS
Self Made®, Owner
Charlie Cates is a strength and conditioning specialist and the owner of Self Made® (http://selfmadefitness.com/) in Chicago, IL. He has worked with competitive and everyday athletes of all ages and ability levels, from 9-year-old kids to NFL MVP’s. He can be reached via e-mail at charlie@selfmadefitness.com.
This article may be reproduced with biographical information intact.
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