Welcome to Live Well, Play Well, a health and wellness column that drops every Wednesday from resident fitness expert Rachel Bleier to help you make smarter lifestyle choices so you can feel better on and off the course.
Tom Brady is a machine. The man has been playing in the NFL for 20 years (and counting), and at 43 years old won his seventh Super Bowl title.
So what’s his secret to success and what does it have to do with golf?
Well, beyond the fact that Brady is an amateur golfer and has participated in The Match as Phil Mickelson’s partner, his consistency off the field is what propels him to success on it.
Brady’s known for being extremely meticulous about his diet and recovery routine. While we all know Brady is doing everything right behind the scenes, it’s incredible to think about how big of an impact that has had on his life so far.
Committing to choosing the healthy snack, to hydrating, to working out and practicing, to a 6 a.m. wake up and 9 p.m. bedtime every day and more has helped Brady stay on the field longer than most players in football and golf.
That’s because consistency is key to performance and success.
Imagine translating Brady’s consistency in his daily routine to your pre-shot or putting routine. You’d probably lower your score by several strokes over the course of a season.
Now think about applying that same consistency to your diet, range routine, or even your bedtime. You could probably achieve anything you wanted whether it’s losing weight or making a swing change or getting more sleep, just by developing good habits through consistent behavior.
No one’s saying you have to give up sugar and go to bed by 9 p.m. every night like Brady. After all, he’s a professional athlete and your time for becoming a pro has likely passed.
However, establishing good habits that help you make better choices like going to bed early the night before your club championship, will help you feel your best on and off the course.
Applying the same consistency Brady has used to get to the top of his sport might just help you become the best golfer you can be. So how do you get started on your own path to greatness?
Start small
It will be tempting to completely upend your entire lifestyle in the pursuit of performance, but don’t do that. Instead, focus on making small changes to build your confidence in yourself to make the right choices. For example, instead of having a bag of chips with your lunch, try swapping in a piece of fruit or commit to drinking eight glasses of water per day. These small choices will add up to a better lifestyle and help you build confidence and trust in yourself.
Develop a routine
There’s a reason the greatest players in sports from Tiger Woods to Brady have seen so much success. Their daily routine is the foundation on which they built all of their good habits. Something as simple as Tiger’s pre-shot routine has a huge impact on his focus, his swing, his result. The same goes for building a better, healthier you. You don’t have to wake up at 6 a.m. or plan out every hour of your day, but developing a routine will help you build trust and confidence in yourself when it comes to making good choices. Whether it’s waking up at the same time every day or scheduling a designated hour to hit the gym, a routine will hold you accountable and make it easier to make those healthier choices over time.
And that’s what this column is all about — helping you make better choices so you can feel your best and play your best every day.
