When it comes to achieving peak performance in any field and surpassing your competition, there is no such thing as luck.
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. That’s why today we’re discussing the best ways of getting “lucky” and achieving peak performance.
So how do you prepare accordingly, and what strategies do successful people employ to become the top performers in their niche?
Well, you’ve come to the right place, because we are about to answer this very question.
Grab a drink and let’s dive in, you don’t want to skip this one. Here are 15 ways to achieve peak performance!
Don’t worry if you don’t feel like reading, you can enjoy the video below or watch it on YouTube:
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Method #1 – Periodized Training
Do you know how athletes always seem to be at their peak just in time for a big competition?
That’s not luck. That’s a smart strategy called periodized training.
Here’s how it works:
Instead of training at the same intensity all year round, they break their training schedule into cycles.
Each cycle focuses on a different aspect of their fitness, like strength, endurance, or speed.
The beauty of it all is that it’s designed so that they reach their peak physical condition right when it matters most, like the Olympics, for example.
But don’t think this way of achieving peak performance is only for professional athletes.
You can apply this concept to your own life too. Let’s say you’re studying for a big exam or working on a huge project.
Instead of cramming or rushing through it, try breaking it into cycles.
Spend some time understanding the concepts, then applying them, and finally reviewing and fine-tuning your knowledge or work.
By organizing your work in cycles, you’ll be able to manage it better and peak at the right time, just like those athletes
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Method #2 – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Imagine you’re about to present a big project, and your brain starts saying, “Hey, you’re going to mess this up.”
Not helpful, right?
Well, CBT is all about battling these negative thought patterns.
It’s all about learning to recognize when your brain is pulling these stunts and then challenging and changing these unhelpful thoughts.
The result? A healthier mindset and better performance.
Now, you might be thinking, “Sounds great, but do I need a therapist for this?”
While working with a trained professional can be super beneficial, you can also practice some CBT techniques on your own.
Try this way of achieving peak performance: the next time you find yourself stuck in a negative thought loop, take a step back.
Question whether your thoughts are based on reality or if your brain is just being noisy. Observe your negative thoughts pass by without choosing to affect you.
Once you get a grip on this, you’ll be able to manage your thoughts better, and that’s how you turn into a confident game-changer.
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Method #3 – Enter The Flow State
Ever lost track of time doing something you love, where everything else just fades away and you’re in the zone?
That is what psychologists and the ancient Taoists call the ‘flow state.’
It’s like the ultimate sweet spot, where you’re fully immersed and actually enjoying what you’re doing.
The best part? Studies show that being in a flow state can seriously level up your game.
But how do you get into this magical flow state?
Well, first things first, wave goodbye to those pesky distractions.
We are specifically talking about phone notifications here. When you want to get serious about doing something, you can’t afford to be distracted.
Next, make sure you’ve got clear goals for what you’re doing, so you’re not left wandering aimlessly.
Finally, you’ve got to find that Goldilocks zone where the task isn’t too easy that you get bored, but not too hard that you get frustrated.
It’s all about finding that task that’s just right.
Do all this, and you’ll be flowing your way to peak performance before you know it.
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Method #4 – Biofeedback
Biofeedback is kind of like becoming best friends with your body, which you should do anyway, and understanding all its quirks.
Imagine if your body could shoot you a text message saying, “Hey, you’re getting a bit stressed out, buddy. Time to chill.”
That’s essentially what biofeedback does.
It’s all about using technology to monitor your body’s functions like heart rate, skin temperature, muscle tension, and brainwaves.
This allows you to spot the tell-tale signs of stress or any other negative responses. Ultra-rich people take this to the next level in their quest to extend their life span, but that’s another story for another time.
Once you’ve figured out these signs, you can learn techniques to control them. With biofeedback, you essentially reconnect with your body’s needs.
It’s super useful for managing things like anxiety, chronic pain, high blood pressure – you name it.
You get a readout of what’s happening inside your body in real-time, which helps you tune into how your body responds to stress or different emotional states.
Then you can step in and calm things down before they get out of hand.
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Method #5 – Mindfulness and Meditation
Picture this:
You’re chilling on a comfortable cushion, your mind floating free of worries like a leaf carried gently down a serene stream.
That’s what being mindful is all about.
Mindfulness is all about living in the present moment rather than fretting about the past or future.
It’s about savoring that delicious cup of coffee, fully engaging in a conversation with a friend, or just feeling the sun on your face.
It can really change your perspective, giving you a new appreciation for the small moments in life.
Then we’ve got meditation, which goes hand in hand with mindfulness.
While they’re both about focusing on the present, meditation often involves setting aside specific time to sit quietly and focus, usually on your breath.
Not only can it be incredibly relaxing, but there’s a heap of science backing up the benefits.
We’re talking about reduced stress, improved focus, better sleep, and getting closer to peak performance.
This way of achieving peak performance only requires a few minutes a day to hit the mental reset button.
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Method #6 – Exercise and Physical Fitness
Exercise and physical fitness go beyond the aesthetic benefits of a toned physique.
This way of achieving peak performance is about much more than that.
Regular physical activity keeps your body running smoothly, like a well-oiled machine. It helps keep your heart healthy, your muscles strong, and your mind sharp.
Plus, when you’re huffing and puffing after a good workout, your body is flooded with feel-good chemicals like endorphins.
Physical fitness isn’t just about strutting your stuff at the gym or training for a marathon.
It’s about maintaining a level of health and strength that lets you do all the things you love, whether that’s hiking with your dog, playing with your kids, or just hauling groceries up a flight of stairs without getting winded.
Regular exercise can also help manage stress and improve your mood.
Plus, there’s a kind of satisfaction that comes from finishing a tough workout and knowing that you pushed your limits.
So tie up those laces, grab your water bottle, and hit the gym if you have not already.
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Method #7 – Sleep Hygiene
Sleep hygiene is all about forming habits that promote better quality sleep.
It’s the little things that can make a huge difference, like maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
Try to create the perfect conditions to signal to your brain that it’s time to rest.
Blackout curtains, eye masks, or just switching off that hallway light can send a powerful signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.
Another tip is to turn down the thermostat. A cooler room can improve sleep quality.
And remember that sneaky sleep-stealer called screen time?
Try to give your eyes a break from screens for at least an hour before bedtime. If you can’t resist, at least switch on the blue-light filter.
Your brain will thank you.
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Method #8 – Nutrition Optimization
Your body is like a high-performance sports car: it needs the right fuel to run at its best.
That’s where nutrition optimization comes into play. It’s all about tweaking your diet so that it best supports your mental and physical performance.
We’re not just talking about counting calories here.
It’s about getting the right balance of macronutrients: carbs, proteins, and fats and not forgetting those micronutrients: the vitamins and minerals that often don’t get the spotlight they deserve.
Some folks might thrive on a plant-based diet, while others might do better with a bit more protein.
It might take a bit of trial and error to figure out what works best for you, and that’s okay!
Hydration is key too. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Dehydration can affect cognitive function, mood, and overall health.
And let’s not forget about gut health.
Probiotics, prebiotics, and fiber are your gut’s best friends, and a healthy gut can contribute significantly to overall well-being and performance.
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The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro technique is a time management methodology proposed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.
How does it work? Well, you start by choosing a task; it can be anything.
Set a timer for 25 minutes and get cracking. During that time, your focus is on the task and nothing else.
No checking your phone, no daydreaming, just pure, uninterrupted work.
It’s amazing what you can get done when you really hone in. When the timer rings, congrats! You’ve completed one “Pomodoro.”
Now, take a short, 5-minute break. Stretch, grab a cup of coffee, pet your dog – whatever floats your boat. After four “Pomodoros,” take a longer break, about 15 to 30 minutes.
The magic of this way of achieving peak performance lies in its simplicity.
It turns seemingly insurmountable tasks into manageable chunks, with the added bonus of regular breaks to refresh and recharge.
Before you know it, you’ll be smashing through your to-do list like a pro!
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Mental Imagery
You’ve probably heard the phrase “see it to believe it,” right?
Well, that’s pretty much the science behind mental imagery, or as some like to call it, visualization.
It’s all about creating a mental picture of what you’re aiming to achieve or the task you’re about to perform.
Let’s tackle this way of achieving peak performance with an example: Imagine you’re preparing for a big presentation.
You could visualize yourself delivering the talk smoothly, and confidently, and receiving a round of applause at the end.
Athletes do this all the time, picturing that perfect swing or flawless finish line sprint in their minds before actually doing it.
The brain’s a funny thing; it can’t always tell the difference between a vividly imagined experience and the real deal.
So, when you mentally rehearse, your brain fires up those same neurons as if you were really doing the action.
In turn, this can boost your confidence, calm your nerves, and increase your chances of nailing the performance when it’s showtime.
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Active Rest
I know what you’re thinking: “Active rest—isn’t that a contradiction?”
But stay with us here. The idea isn’t to run a marathon on your day off.
Instead, it’s about engaging in gentle, restorative activities that keep your body moving without adding extra stress.
Think of it as downtime with a dash of movement. For example, if you’re a weightlifter, active rest could be a light yoga session or a leisurely swim.
The aim is to boost blood circulation and keep your body flexible without exhausting yourself.
It’s also a great way to avoid burnout.
So, on your next rest day, instead of being a total couch potato, try a slow-paced walk in nature, a chilled bike ride, or maybe some mindful stretching.
Your body and mind will thank you!
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Cold Exposure And Heat Therapy
Now, this one might sound like something out of a wellness guru’s handbook, but trust us, there’s a science to it!
First off, we have cold exposure, which is exactly what it sounds like, exposing your body to cold temperatures.
This could be in the form of a chilly shower, an icy dip in the ocean, or even a stroll in frosty weather.
The cold shock can kick your body into overdrive, increasing circulation, boosting mood, and even stimulating fat loss.
It’s like hitting the body’s reset button, and yes, you do get used to it over time!
Then, on the flip side, there’s heat therapy, often in the form of saunas or hot baths.
Sitting in a toasty room or soaking in a hot tub might seem like the ultimate relaxation, and it is, but it also provides a bunch of physical benefits.
Regular heat exposure can aid recovery, improve sleep, and even boost longevity by ramping up heat shock proteins.
These nifty little proteins protect your cells from stress and can repair damage, which is a major win for your body.
So whether you’re a fan of the chill or the sizzle, there’s a therapy that suits your preference and can supercharge your performance to boot!
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Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition is a pretty nifty learning technique where you don’t just repeat the information over and over in a short span of time.
Instead, you spread out your study sessions and review the material at increasing intervals.
Let’s say you learned a new fact today; you’d review it maybe tomorrow, then two days later, then four days, a week, and so on.
The idea is that every time you’re about to forget the information, you review it, and this strengthens your memory of it.
It’s like giving your brain a little nudge just when it’s about to let go of the information.
Spaced repetition is science-backed and pretty solid. Here’s why this is an amazing way of achieving peak performance:
The ‘spacing effect,’ the idea that our brains learn more effectively when we space out our learning over time, has been kicking around in psychology since the 19th century.
It’s been proven in numerous studies, and, let’s face it, it’s a lot less stressful than last-minute cramming.
There are even handy apps and software available that can handle the scheduling for you, reminding you when it’s time to review each piece of information.
So, next time you’ve got a ton of stuff to learn, remember: don’t cram, space it out!
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Dual N-Back Training
So, you’ve probably heard about ‘brain training’ games and apps that promise to turn you into the next Einstein, right?
Well, many of them might not live up to the hype. But there’s one type of brain training that researchers are pretty excited about dual n-back training.
In this game, you’re presented with a sequence of visual and audio cues. And your job is to remember if the current cue matches the one from ‘n’ steps earlier in the sequence.
Sounds simple, right? But it can get pretty tricky as ‘n’ increases and you have to juggle more and more information in your head.
Dual N-back training is like lifting weights for your working memory.
This way of achieving peak performance is designed to improve your ability to hold and manipulate information in your mind over short periods. It’s a mental muscle that’s used in all kinds of everyday tasks.
Some studies even suggest that this training can boost fluid intelligence, the ability to reason and solve new problems—which was previously thought to be unchangeable.
It’s not a magic bullet and won’t turn you into a genius overnight.
But with consistent practice, dual n-back training might just give your brain the workout it needs to perform a bit better.
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Graded Exposure Therapy
So, let’s talk about facing your fears.
You know that feeling when you’re about to do something that terrifies you, and your brain is shouting at you to run away?
That’s where graded exposure therapy comes in. It’s a type of therapy used to help people overcome their anxieties or fears.
Instead of jumping head-first into the thing you’re scared of, you start small and gradually work your way up.
If you’re scared of spiders, you might start by just thinking about a spider, then looking at a picture of one, then maybe watching a video, and eventually, you might feel brave enough to be in the same room as a spider.
Graded exposure therapy is all about taking baby steps. We use this technique in the Alux app to help our users get started on overwhelming goals and tasks.
The idea is that each step should feel manageable, and by taking these steps, you build confidence and reduce the fear response.
It’s all about progressively facing your fear in a controlled and structured way.
To close things off, we want to have you remember one thing:
In order to reach the top of the pyramid, you need to function at your absolute best. And to do that, you need to implement at least a handful of these ways to achieve that peak performance. See you next time!
