Mental Drill: 5 Mental Toughness Exercises Every Athlete Should Practice (Baseball & Softball)

EXERCISE 1: DAILY GRATITUDE PRACTICE - Each day write three things grateful for related to sport. Builds positive mindset and perspective. 5 minutes daily. EXERCISE 2: PRESSURE VISUALIZATION - Imagine high-pressure situations and see yourself performing confidently. Build mental familiarity with pressure. 10 minutes 3x per week. EXERCISE 3: CONTROLLED BREATHING - Practice box breathing: 4 count inhale, 4 count hold, 4 count exhale, 4 count hold. Repeat 5 cycles. Activates relaxation response. Daily practice. EXERCISE 4: POSITIVE SELF-TALK JOURNAL - Write negative thoughts, then positive reframes. Train mind to replace negativity with constructive thoughts. 10 minutes 3x per week. EXERCISE 5: ADVERSITY REFLECTION - After tough situations, write what happened, how you responded, what you learned. Builds resilience through reflection. After challenges.

• Mental toughness is skill built through regular practice
• Like physical training, consistency produces results
• Start with one or two exercises, add more over time
• Mental training often overlooked but hugely impactful
• These exercises applicable to sport and life
• Keep exercises simple and sustainable
• Progress tracked through self-awareness and performance