Mind Wandering

How often do you find yourself in the midst of an activity, no matter what it is, only to find your mind wandering away from the present moment? Perhaps you’re on the mound pitching, but your mind is thinking about something else. Maybe you are with your wife, or girlfriend, watching a movie, but you are thinking about your next start. Our minds do wander from time to time, it happens to us all.

Although normal, wandering can prohibit you from fully enjoying the moment you’re in. More so, it robs you of the focus and concentration needed to perform at your highest level.

Here are three steps to help control your mind when it starts to wander:

  1. Coach yourself back to present moment focus by asking yourself, “Where am I?” Answer the question. “What am I doing”? Then answer the question.For example, where am I? On the mound. What am I doing? Pitching. Then be there. Where am I? I am with my girlfriend or wife. What am I doing? Watching a movie. Then be there.
  2. Take a deep breath. There’s nothing better to help get you back in the moment. A long slow deep breath in and a long slow exhale.
  3. Practice. Be mindful and pay more attention to what you are doing. For example:When you walk up the stairs, try to feel your foot as it lands on the step and then how your foot supports your body as it continues to move.

    When you are eating your food, slow down and try to really enjoy it.

    When you wash your hands, take a moment to savor the feel the water and soap rinse over your hands.

You will likely find other tactics that help you, but using these three as a start can help you return to the present moment and regain the focus you need to optimize performance.

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“On our way back to IL from ATL we listened to 90%. I saw Will pull out his phone and start taking notes. He then began to hit the pause button to finish his note as not to miss anything that was to come. I asked him what were some things that he got from his first run with this book. He said the “Little Man”, the “Stop Sign”, “Breathe”, and “Anchor Statements; specifically the Boat & Anchor analogy”. Mr. Tewks is doing incredible work and I saw it with my son Will. It has been the single best development piece of Will’s 14U season.”

“Tewks talked about different things as far as the mental side of the game, and building that relationship with him I had a trust where I could go and bounce things off of him. He’s a no BS guy. I knew he wouldn’t pussyfoot around with me. I knew if I asked him a question, he would give me an honest answer, both on the pitching side and on the mental side. I knew I would get that from him.”

“He tells you what he sees, and he calls you out on things. He makes you better as a player as you go along. The biggest thing I’ve found is that if a player continues to seek advice, seek help, there are people who can help that player get the most out of his potential on the baseball field.”

“He’s got more instant credibility and more to offer if a player or staff is so inclined to engage with him because of his long career in baseball. As we know, pitching is the loneliest thing you can do.”

“What Bob brings to the table, Bob did it. He was there. He had his career,” Ravizza says. “When Bob talks about the mental game, I listen, because he’s walked the walk. I really have so much respect for him.”

“I’ve worked with other people, but the stuff we put in place in Boston is what I’m still using today,” Miller says. “It’s a very important part of my success, or turnaround. It’s something I take very seriously and I think it’s had a big impact on my pitching.”

“Having worked with Tewks as a player as well as a coach, I’ve been lucky enough to see firsthand how much he can impact individuals and teams.  He has been invaluable to me personally throughout my career, as well as our baseball team at Boston College.”

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