Easy Hacks for Athletes

Whether you’re a casual athlete, or a seasoned pro, the following are some easy hacks to improve performance, equip yourself for success and take some of the pain out of your gain.

Athletic Preparation Hacks

Good sleep is essential

Getting a solid 7-8 hours of sleep is a good foundation for peak performance. One easy hack for getting to sleep faster is to stop surfing the Internet. Looking at a bright screen at night can disrupt your body clock and stop your brain from knowing it’s time to fall asleep. Experts recommend you turn off electronic devices at least a half hour to an hour before bed and choose dim lighting for your bedroom. You’ll notice sleep comes quicker.

Keep cool and rest easy

Sleep comes easier when the body is cool, so for a deeper sleep try keeping your bedroom between 65-68 degrees.

Red is for winners

Before heading out to the pickleball court, playing a game of pick-up basketball, or choosing team jersey colors, here is a hack to consider- wearing red increases your chances of winning

Not only does wearing red make you more attractive to the opposite sex, but it also increases your chances of coming out on top in sports. In 2004 British researchers concluded that athletes who wore red always came out on top during close-game situations. So keep working, keep it close and keep wearing red,

Extend the life of your shoes

For men or anyone with thick long toenails, it pays to trim them up. Just by keeping your toe nails properly maintained, you'll cut down on friction with the mesh toe of your cross trainers as well as prolong the life of your athletic socks.

Game Time or Competition Day Hacks

Get a grip

High-pressure situations can occur in any sport. The question is, how do you handle your nerves? According to a Sports Physician Doctor Juergen Beckmann (chair of sport psychology at the Technical University of Munich in Germany), you can calm some nerves by clenching your left fist. This motion seems to activate the right side of the brain -- the side that controls your automated behavior. This helps athletes from overthinking and just go with their instincts.

Sing don’t choke

We have all seen athletes choke in late-game situations. The thing that separates the greats from others is there ability to stay calm and collected in clutch situations. How can you keep from choking? Try singing. The pressure of competition, can often lead athletes to overthink. According to research, singing, allows you to shut off that part of the brain that becomes too overactive. Calming the mind can help you prevent choking.

The smell of success

Researchers have discovered the positive effects of certain smells and aromas. Aromas such as lavender and rosemary have been shown to not only make you calmer but it actually lower your blood pressure. In a study conducted with six MLB players, researchers discovered that the athletes had a higher batting average whenever they sniffed their scented wristbands.

After Workouts, Games or Competition

Take the sting out of athletics

Many athletes in a wide variety of sports are using sports/kinesiology tape to relieve sore muscles. This super sticky tape is great for holding things in place, but that firm grip can also make it a pain to remove. If you keep packets of Sting-less Adhesive Remover Wipes in your workout bag you can dampen the tape and have it come off without the ouch. Because Sting-less is made from all-natural ingredients and doesn’t contain oil or alcohol, it doesn’t leave behind an greasy mess that can stain clothes and towels and also won’t dry out skin. You can also use Sting-less Adhesive Remover Wipes for easily taking off bandages you might use on blisters or cuts.

Even If your game stinks you don’t have to

After a sweaty workout if you get caught without deodorant, you can use a dab of hand-sanitizer, which kills bacteria that causes smell.

Better than a game of pickle

If you’re active and have picked up some sports blisters—pickle juice can be a natural cure. Famed baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan claimed to have used pickle juice to treat/prevent blisters on his hands incurred while pitching. A few swigs of Pickle juice is also said to relive cramps. Tests have shown that the juice from a standard jar of pickles will treat muscle cramping 37% faster than water.

Easy Solution for Athletes Foot

If you get athlete's foot, there's no need to go buy a tube of over the counter treatment. The cheapest and easiest solution is to soak your foot in equal parts vinegar and water for 15 minutes, twice daily. You can also add a cup of white vinegar to your wash in order to kill any fungus hanging around in your socks.