Self-Coach Routines

Welcome to the Healthy Mindset App podcast where host Mike Hartman, a performance coach and former professional athlete, brings his passion to help athletes and workplace athletes achieve their dreams and goals while being mindful of everything else in life. Mike also uses this platform to share his targeted assessment applications. Healthy Mindset course meditation and goal setting technique for the athlete and workplace athlete. We're glad you're here. Now let's dive headfirst into this episode of the Healthy Mindset App podcast. Here's your host, Mike Hartman.

Today I'm going to talk about the athlete and your routine. And before I go any further, I want to say is your routine is your routine. You don't have to look at what a big leaguer does. You don't have to look at what somebody else does. You have to do what is really best for you. As long as you have a plan, always have that plan in place. You have your habits and you have your goals in place. That routine is for you. I played with a player named Steve Larmor, and Steve was one of the most underrated players in the National Hockey League. And the story I'm going to tell you was really unique. We were in Calgary many years ago, of course. So I'm playing against Calgary the next day. It's the night before the game. And usually you have your fish, your chicken, you'll have pasta, you'll have a really good meal the night before. And I was with Steve was my roommate on the road, and Steve said, let's go, we're going to go for Chinese food. I said, steve, I can't have that. He says, why not? I said, I just can't. That's not part of my routine. And he respected that. But, but he would have Chinese food. But if I looked at it, he played more games in a row than any other player did. But that record was then broken because he ended up holding out before he came to the New York Rangers, actually. But your routine is your routine. I played with players that would have a grilled cheese sandwich in the afternoon. Now, nutrition is extremely important. I believe in sleep good habits, proper nutrition, but you have to do really what works best for you. And I'm going really deep into this because somebody asked me, they said, hey, can you give me a good routine? Well, the routine that one athlete would use maybe would not be the best for you. But one thing I can say is really be prepared. That's the worst thing that you could do to yourself is not be prepared to play. So remember, especially in professional hockey, we had a Routine. We would have a pre game meal, then we would take a nap. We probably have our practice before. So we'd have a practice, a pregame meal, a nap. We'd have a snack before we'd go to the stadium. Maybe a little something when you're at the stadium, then you're ready to play. Then we'd have a healthy meal after the game. But you don't have to do that. That's not something that you have to do. As long as you're properly fueling your body, you're properly taking care of yourself, you're in your routine. Some players like to listen to music, some players like to meditate, which I think is extremely important. I mean I'm really big into meditation and visualization and doing things to help you. But you have to find what works best for you. And there's players that are superstitious. I remember another time I was, I was playing in the NHL and I was sitting next to a player and I was a rookie and I and I used that players tape because his routine was he had his tape lined up in his hockey tape lined up in a perfect spot and I used his tape and he looked at me like, don't ever touch my tape again. Now he didn't say that, but his eyes said it for him. And it's funny because that was his routine. He had a routine of taping his stick just before warm ups or whatever it is. Some players I knew back in the day, they would work out actually in the morning and have a really good workout. I mean we played what, 80 games a year back then, not including playoffs. But some of their routine was to work out. Some rode the bike. Everybody has a different routine. Some people might go for a jog. I played with, especially players that the Russian players used to love to run before they played. I've seen that a lot back in the day and it's even more so today. So I want you to really think about really what works best for you. But make sure that it's structured. It just can't. I don't believe you could just wing a routine. I believe a routine is extremely important because being prepared to me is one of the most important things you can do. But you have to be the one to do it. And what I'm going to say again is you be you, you be yourself. And if you find something that you really like that will really get you in the zone and get you prepared, that's what you need. So don't let anybody ever tell you this is the routine you should do. Do something that works best for you.

We're so glad you joined us for this episode of the Healthy Mindset App Podcast with your host, Mike Hartman. If you're enjoying the show, please feel free to rate, subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. That helps others find the show, and we greatly appreciate it. To dive deeper and learn more about the Healthy Mindset program, or to get in touch with Mike, please Visit our website, healthymindsetapp.com thanks again for listening and we hope you'll join us again in the next episode of the Healthy Mindset App Podcast. Until then, be well.