How I'm reprogramming my reality by thinking like an athlete

I keep this quote scribbled in the front of my journal because it so succinctly summarizes why every human being views the world differently:

“What you pay attention to will define, for you, what reality is.”

— Oliver Burkeman

If we can find a way to wrest control of our attention and direct it where we desire (far from a foregone conclusion — a topic for another time), we have the ability to mold and shape our individual realities.

Now, this is far easier said than done. But here's one way I'm working to apply this knowledge in 2025.

Are we creating the realities that we want to inhabit?

As I thought about this quote from Burkeman, I realized that I (and, I suspect, most people) have a tendency to pay attention to things that I don't want to define my reality. For example, much of my attention over the years could be summarized by the phrase, "think like an employee." By that I mean:

At all costs, strive not to disappoint the boss
Show up on time
Deliver the best-quality work possible
Focus on how you can add additional value to the company above and beyond your standard tasks
Always be focused on the next task or the next project — even when you're off the clock
Go above and beyond the average employee so you stand out from the crowd
Etc. Etc.

I've also spent an inordinate amount of time focusing on other areas of my life, such as "thinking like a writer" or "thinking like an investor."

But as I approached 2025, I realized that I have the potential to choose more carefully what I focus on. I don’t have to think like an employee first and foremost. I don’t even have to primarily think like a writer. So, I created a new mantra for the year:

Mantra: Think like an athlete

Instead of dedicating all of my mental energy to thinking like an employee or thinking like a writer, I've decided that in 2025, my #1 goal is to think like an athlete.

In many ways, this is a transformational paradigm shift. I've spent a lot of time thinking like a mountain biker or thinking like an explorer over the years, but thinking like an actual athlete? What does that even mean?

Learning like an athlete

To discover what it might mean to think like an athlete, I realized that I need to learn like an athlete. Unlike some people, I learn quite well through reading books, which is probably why I'm a writer. So, I'm striving to read as many books about being an athlete as I possibly can in an attempt to rewire my brain to focus on athleticism. These books include informational non-fiction like Alex Hutchinson's Endure and numerous memoirs from incredible athletes, such as Dean Karnazes' Ultramarathon Man.

I've also shifted my podcast consumption, so I'm now listening to top-tier athletes whenever possible. The Rich Roll podcast has become a go-to for me, but I specifically seek out his episodes with world-class athletes to glean as much information from them as I can.

Here are my key learnings so far:

Athletes train

If there's one thing that writers do, it's write. And if there's one thing that athletes do, it isn't compete — it's train. Competitive events only occupy a small fraction of an athlete's time. The vast majority is spent in rigorous training and practice, day in and day out.

Training requires having a dedicated regimen, with targets for each workout (or at least the most important weekly workouts), along with goals that you're working toward. Training well also recognizes when to back off and take rest periods, and when you might be in an off-season.

Athletes cross-train

Historically, one of my biggest weaknesses has been a lack of strength training and cross-training. A big part of my motivation to tackle 75 Hard was a bit of extra inspiration to do the workouts that I have a harder time getting motivated to do.

Athletes maintain their bodies

I've also doubled down on additional soft tissue work, including extra-long foam rolling sessions and adding new stretches to my routine. While I've been stretching and foam rolling for years, this is yet another arena where I could very much use additional time investment.

Athletes are intentional about what they put in their bodies

During 75 Hard, I eliminated a few obvious shortcomings from my diet and saw some small but noticeable improvements as a result. I've also made some tweaks to my morning and mid-ride fueling, which are working out well. While I haven't done a nutritional deep dive recently, I'm allowing my proven vegan diet to carry me along to success.

Athletes train their minds

My mindfulness practice is, regrettably, hit-or-miss. Yet I've learned that athletes also strive to train their minds, and there's no better way to do this than through meditation. This is even more motivation to continue sitting, breathing, and practicing (there's that word again) even when it's hard.

Athletes have a coach

While this may seem obvious, it holds true even among some of the most individualistic sports out there: top-tier athletes all have a coach (or several). I don't yet have a coach or a trainer of any sort, but I'm seriously considering what that might look like and how I could draw on outside expertise to help me achieve my goals.

Athletes have a big, scary goal on the calendar

You can't truly build a training plan unless you're trying to achieve a goal. All training plans begin with a goal and then work backward to identify the steps required in order to achieve that goal.

But in order to motivate you to constantly improve and progress, the goal has to be big and scary. It's gotta be intimidating.

This could be a race, or it could be an epic adventure of mammoth proportions that you're not sure you'll be able to complete. It could be a bespoke challenge that you create for yourself that most other people might find arbitrary, but it's big and scary enough to motivate you to get out there and put in the miles.

I'm willing to be wrong, and willing to learn

In the past, I've often waited to publish some articles here on Outside 365 until I've completed challenges or arrived at a point where I feel confident enough to share insights.

But this time is different.

I'm willing to admit that I don't know much about being an athlete. I don't have a coach, I don't cross-train and stretch enough, and my training plan is roughshod at best. One of the reasons I'm reading so many books and listening to so many podcasts is that I'm painfully aware of how little I know about this realm. And so, I'm seeking to absorb as much information as I possibly can.

And I want to hear from you. If you know of a great source of information that can help me think and learn like an athlete, specifically in the endurance and ultra-endurance realm, feel free to respond to this newsletter and let me know where you go for your best information.

Finally, if you're sick of thinking like an employee or paying attention to meaningless things in your own life, consider using a similar paradigm shift to intentionally reprogram and rewrite your reality. Let me know how it goes.