3 things I wish I understood sooner as an athlete.

Three Things That Helped Me Become the Best Athlete I Could Be

This is for the athlete who’s in it right now.

This is for the former athlete trying to stay sharp.

This is for anyone training, competing, or simply trying to build a strong, healthy life.

These are three concepts that helped me become the best athlete I could be. None of them are flashy. All of them work.

1. Always Have a Goal You’re Working Toward

One of the most powerful things you can do as an athlete is have something you’re aiming at.

If you’re currently competing, that goal might be winning a championship, earning a starting spot, or hitting a performance marker. But what really matters is having goals within your control. Daily goals. Weekly goals. Yearly goals. Something tangible you’re chasing.

Having a clear target gives you psychological leverage. On the days training feels heavy, when motivation dips, when the work feels monotonous, your goal gives you that extra bounce. It reminds you why you showed up in the first place.

Even now, as a former competitive athlete, I still train with goals. For me, that looks like maintaining 185 pounds at around 14% body fat or being able to run a five-minute mile. I’m not training randomly. I’m training for something.

I remember when I stopped playing soccer in 2019. I was still working out, but I kept thinking, What am I even doing this for? That lack of purpose drained the energy out of training. Once I reintroduced goals, everything changed.

Purpose fuels consistency. Consistency builds confidence.

2. Food, Nutrition, and Sleep Matter More Than You Think

This is basic, but it’s non-negotiable.

Your body is your tool. It’s your entire toolbox. And you can either take care of it or slowly break it down.

An analogy that stuck with me came from reading Zlatan Ibrahimović’s book. He talked about his body like a Ferrari. You don’t put cheap fuel into a Ferrari and expect elite performance. The same applies to you.

What you eat is the fuel. What you drink matters. And sleep is the reset button. I didn’t fully understand this until later in my athletic career, but no one is bigger than these basics. Not talent. Not work ethic. Not mindset.

When you start optimizing nutrition and sleep, you unlock energy you didn’t know you had. Recovery improves. Focus sharpens. Training quality goes up. Everything gets easier to sustain.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s foundational.

3. You’re In the Good Days. Enjoy Them.

This is the one I wish someone had told me when I was younger.

If you’re playing a sport, especially as part of a team, you’re living in the good days right now. Practices. Games. Locker rooms. Travel. Shared goals. You don’t realize how special it is until it’s gone.

Enjoy it. Have fun. Be joyful. Take the work seriously, but don’t forget to enjoy the experience.

Even outside of competitive sports, this still applies. Find joy in training. Move your body in ways you actually enjoy. Laugh. Compete. Challenge yourself. Let it be fun.

Joy keeps you in the game longer than discipline alone ever will.

Final Thought

Have a goal. Fuel your body. Enjoy the process.

These three things don’t just make you a better athlete. They help you build a stronger life.

And if you’re reading this and wondering whether you’re doing enough, remember this: showing up with intention already puts you ahead.

Keep going.