There\u2019s one thing that can make you incredibly strong, or suddenly very weak and unable to climb. And it has nothing to do with your muscles or your fingers\u2026 It\u2019s what\u2019s between your ears. As climbing season kicks into full gear, here are a few approaches to help you tame your thoughts so you can climb harder, or simply enjoy climbing more.<\/p>\n
Depending on the context, fear can be a good advisor or, on the contrary, hold you back. When you\u2019re on the last moves of a highball, several meters above your last piece of protection, it\u2019s perfectly normal to feel fear. And if you want to do things like that, gradual exposure to experiences that give you an adrenaline rush is the way to go. Even indoors, it\u2019s not uncommon to see people get scared when they reach the top of a problem. So take it step by step: pay attention to your body and your self-talk while climbing, ask for feedback on risks, practice falls (indoors, outdoor bouldering, or on rope). And of course, of course: commit only when you are aware of the risks.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re trying to send a boulder or a route and you have a reasonable idea of the risks, but your mind keeps telling you you\u2019re about to take a huge whipper, instead of fighting that thought, try a simple phrase: \u201cJust one more move.\u201d<\/i> That\u2019s it. Touch the next hold, then repeat: \u201cJust one more move.\u201d<\/i> This way, you focus on the task at hand (climbing) instead of the thousand scenarios your brain is generating.<\/p>\nVisualization as a tool<\/h2>\n
There\u2019s one scientifically proven way to climb stronger without doing a single pull-up: visualization. Picture in your mind all the moves of the boulder or route you\u2019re working on. Take it further: the texture of the holds under your fingers, where your left foot needs to go, the feeling of the next move. All of this helps prepare both body and mind for the climb. Studies show that athletes who use visualization perform better and are less likely to feel anxious. A winning combo!<\/p>\n
The catch with wanting to climb hard is that you can also put a lot of pressure on yourself. Sometimes to the point of being paralyzed. \u201cI absolutely have to flash this problem.\u201d<\/i> \u201cWhy don\u2019t I climb as hard as George or Henrietta?\u201d<\/i> \u201cI should have been able to send that route in three tries.\u201d<\/i> Rumination like this can ruin one or several sessions! And social media can make it feel like everyone climbs V17, except you. But no: everyone fails in climbing, it\u2019s part of the process. Compare yourself only to yourself: every body, every person is different. Also, make sure to remind yourself why you love climbing. Maybe it\u2019s the problem-solving, the feeling of well-being on the wall, the flow of movement or simply spending good times with friends.<\/p>\nKeeping a journal<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s not for everyone, but some people might benefit from keeping a small climbing journal. Write down the \u201cquality\u201d of your session, how you felt, what you enjoyed and what you didn\u2019t. It can help you better understand and repeat the things you enjoy in climbing.<\/p>\n
A little nod to video game fans. Don\u2019t want to bang your head against the same problem, whether indoors or outdoors? Find yourself a side quest that\u2019s a bit easier. Throw some attempts at your tough project of the day, but also spend time on your secondary project. This way, you\u2019ll challenge yourself while still making progress, whether on your main or secondary goal. Which, of course, helps keep you motivated! It\u2019s like hacking your brain\u2026<\/p>\n
Today you thought you were in great shape and ready to crush everything\u2026 but instead, you\u2019re falling on problems you\u2019ve already sent, feeling like a sack of potatoes trying to mantle onto a slab? I feel like that regularly\u2026 Maybe you had a rough day, you\u2019re dealing with stress, didn\u2019t get enough sleep, didn\u2019t eat enough before your session, or maybe your cat is ignoring you. Climbing doesn\u2019t happen in a vacuum, apart from the rest of your life. Be compassionate with yourself. Maybe jot down the things that help you have a better session and try to repeat them. But above all, enjoy climbing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There\u2019s one thing that can make you incredibly strong, or suddenly very weak and unable to climb. And it has nothing to do with your muscles or your fingers\u2026 It\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":24407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-24408","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-non-classifiee"},"yoast_head":"\n