Psych yourself up
A recently published review in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (N. Washmuth et al., 2024, Effect of Swearing on Physical Performance: A Mini-Review, Frontiers in Psychology) found that swearing improves physical performance.
According to the authors, one potential mechanism is “due to an increase in state disinhibition, a state in which someone is less likely to hold back.”
Fear not if you prefer not to swear, the authors also reference study (O’Connell et al., 2014, The Effects of “Grunting” on Serve and Forehand Velocities in Collegiate Tennis Players, J. Strength Cond. Res., 28, 3469–75) that found non-taboo verbiage such as verbal grunts “helped tennis players hit the ball with greater power (mean increase 19%-26%)”.
Using powerful language, shouting, and the jumping up and down while shaking one’s head and hands that we often see athletes do just before a big match are all examples of mentally preparing for a testing task or occasion, also known as psyching oneself up.
And now we know that it’s not all for show — that, at least according to the authors of the review, there is indeed a method to the madness.
One notable caveat is that the review only considers physical performance, but I suspect there is benefit to be gained by psyching ourselves up prior to engaging in challenging cognitive tasks as well.
Psyching ourselves up isn’t a panacea that’s going to to help up us conquer every challenge we must face. But assuming we’ve taken care of the foundational bits like getting sufficient rest, eating a nutritious diet, and regular physical movement, it can certainly prove to be an effective tool in many situations.
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I'm a second-generation Taiwanese American trying to find life’s greatest sources of meaning and make the most out of it