Given that being good at a sport or achieving success with your
at-home exercise regime requires more than just physical
training, what can you do to give yourself a mental edge? As
Robert Schleser, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the Illinois
Institute of Technology, has observed, when elite athletes are
not performing, they are most likely thinking about their sport
and mentally rehearsing it.  Visualizing themselves engaged in
their chosen activity, performing flawlessly at optimum
potential, helps athletes to work out ahead of time how they
will react to a myriad of circumstances. A competitive swimmer
who mentally practices her stroke technique before slipping her
toes into the water will swim better for the effort.  You don't
have to be an elite athlete to benefit from mental imagery. This
technique can help you perform more confidently in every area of
your life, whether you want to increase the efficiency of your
workout or give a better presentation at your company's annual
meeting.