Mental State When Exhausted: Tips to Try

A friend posted on FB after the Omega stop last weekend that she noticed she was mentally drained during one of her matches because there was a long wait-time between playing her matches (we had 123 players and it was a very long weekend!).

I asked a fellow player her thoughts (National and State Champion, Amanda Lampert) and she thought it sounded more like endurance than mental exhaustion.  Here are some tips she shared to help her own endurance during long waits:

• Walk outside for a change in the atmosphere.  Every time you walk back in, it's like a new start!
• Cool off in the bathroom a bit every few hours (that's where it's usually cooler). 
• Drink more water than usual (keep hydrated!)
• Eat almonds or cashews for protein/energy, or a protein bar.
• Don't try new energy drinks during an event - you never know how your body and mind might react to them.

My friend looking for advice shared:

"The wait exhausted me...my first match after that long wait was against a very tough player....I went hill hill in that match....I just could not capitalize on his missed shots."

Although endurance can be a cause of not capitalizing, it's still a great time to take advantage and notice what is going on right away and resolve it.  If you feel you are missing because you are tired, go to your tips to overcome that.

Here are some things to try to get your more energized:

• I sometimes go to the bathroom and do jumping jacks (yes, seriously),
• drink COLD water,
• eat a small snack,
• take a shot if you need it, lol,
• do jumping jacks in the bathroom to get energy,
• put your hair up (changing your hair in this way is like a new person),
• suck on some mints, or
• even use paper as a small fan to get air circulating and "wake" you up,
• wash your face.

Again, the key is to figure out right away (which I just recently wrote about) what is going on so you can resolve it.  Even it's it endurance or being exhausted that may be causing our misses, there are tips that can help put us in a better position to play our best.

Addition to Out of Box Tips

I wrote back in May about some out-of-the-box tips that can help your game overall.

But I failed to include a really tough one in that list!

When I state this, you are going to think this is really easy.  Well, I dare you to try it!  It's kinda like the thoughts we have about straight pool - I can make any ball in any pocket?  That game must be easy.  Trust me, it's NOT.  Only sounds easy (try for yourself lol).

So, here is the out-of-box tip I forgot:

Run a rack in your head!

Seriously!

Imagine yourself breaking, then staying down for each shot and try to run out.  Use english and get good shape, all in your mind, all as you try to run the entire rack in your head.

Again, sounds easy.

Try it.

You'll find out it's not.  lol.

Again, don't just run the rack fast in your head, but run it with dedication to each shot.  Give each shot the attention it deserves (just like on a pool table).  This is a great technique to use your pre-shot routine on every shot, stay down, and helps train your brain to focus.

Seriously, you'll be surprised how tough it is to focus and remember where all the balls are (hope you make a ball on the break, too, lol) all the while trying to have a solid stroke on tough shots or using your pre shot routine in your head.

This is a great technique to use before tournaments to get you ready.

Enjoy!

Smoking Establishments

I don't even realize how acclimated I am to smoke-filled rooms.  And I think it's unfortunate.

Most all the pool rooms (currently) in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are smoking establishments.  I've been in smokey pool rooms my whole life, except the few times I might have visited a non-smoking pool room in another state.

Because I don't frequent pool rooms that much anymore, I am not around smoke as much (and I'm not a smoker).  However, I have noticed it takes me a few days (literally) to feel up-to-par after running a tournament all weekend because I'm around smoke more than I'm used to.  My body and lungs are affected more by the smoke because I'm not around it as much.

However, what really surprised me was at the previous Omega stop, a couple of friends stopped by the pool room on Sunday morning, as they were driving from Florida to Vegas for BCAPL Nationals.

They were there only about an hour and one of the guys comes up to me say goodbye.  He said, "Sorry, we have to go.  We aren't used to the smoke and we need to get out of here."

I gave my hugs and said my safe travel wishes and they left.

But, I have to say I was VERY surprised.

You see, it was Sunday morning, so hardly anyone was in there.  Maybe only 20 people.  Unlike the previous day when it was packed, the smoke was more noticeable to me.  My point is, it wasn't that smokey that Sunday morning (at least I thought).

And, it was right when they opened, so again, it wasn't that smokey yet (like it could be later in the day).

Here I was, not even noticing the smoke that morning, yet because they play pool in 100% non-smoking pool rooms in Florida, they noticed it right away.

I'm actually saddened that I didn't even notice how smokey it was that morning.  I mean, even reflecting back I can't recall it being so smokey (the previous day, yes, but not that morning).

It just shows how the smokey atmosphere is invasive and we don't even know it.  :(