How Arousal Levels can Dictate Performance
Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Lindfield and Balmain today discuss arousal and how it can influence your performance.
What are arousal levels?
Arousal levels can be described as a function of alertness, stress, distraction and direction of attention. However, this effects how ready that person is to perform a task in an effective manner.
Arousal levels can affect everything from performing a squat, kicking a goal in rugby to performing a speech. Each task has a specific level of arousal needed to complete the task in the most effective manner.
Under aroused
If you are completing a task which may involve a lot of concentration, strength or determination, being under aroused can work against you. If your arousal levels are too low, you become disengaged and spaced out. Also, you can potentially not place enough seriousness on the task at hand. In contact sports this may result in injury, where your body is not physically prepared for contact. This is often seen where teams or individuals ‘wake up’ later into the match. Furthermore, distraction can cause under arousal in terms of not being concentrated on the task at hand.
Over aroused
Conversely, if you are too aroused for a task regardless of its nature, your physical and mental actions can be greatly affected. If your arousal is too high, attention to detail deteriorates. Anxiety levels increase and you can become easily distracted by the result of the task, rather than focusing on the execution of the task. For example, if someone is attempting personal best best bench press and they are too aroused, they will most likely forget technique cues which can let down their attempt.
Optimal arousal
This is the level of arousal which will allow for the highest level of performance specific to the task. Arousal levels for someone preparing for a boxing match verses an archery competition is very different. However, both have an optimal arousal level.
Tips
- Treat all training surrounding a specific event with the highest intent, so that when performance is measured, your body isn’t overwhelmed with the task at hand.
- Learn what works best for you – music, meditation, specific foods, visualization, breathing & self-talk.
Contact Longevity Personal Training and Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Lindfield and Balmain on 1300 964 002 to enquire today.
Written By Guy Beynon
