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High standards are common in sport. Research often splits perfectionism into two parts, and they seem to behave quite differently.
The broad picture:
- Perfectionistic strivings: setting high standards and working hard towards them; often linked with motivation and, at times, better performance
- Perfectionistic concerns: fear of mistakes, harsh self-criticism and worry about others’ judgement; consistently linked with anxiety, burnout and reduced well-being
- The two can occur together in the same person
- Being able to accept mistakes as part of learning seems to be protective
Related: burnout prevention for athletes.
How do you react to a session or race that went less than perfectly?
A practical reframe: judge sessions by what you controlled (effort, execution, decisions) rather than only by the outcome. A plan executed well on a bad day is still a good session.
A short, factual review after training, such as “one thing that went well, one thing to work on”, helps keep standards high without turning every mistake into a verdict on yourself.
Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)