Mental Conditioning
Archive
“You always think you’ll save the ones you love when the moment comes. But he didn’t save her.”
What this Olympic moment can teach all of us about mental health
They’re deceptively straightforward, but if you can follow them, you’ll see the benefits
What we learn from getting way, way outside our comfort zones
It turns out we have a lot in common
Why reaching outdoor nirvana means journeying far from the beaten path
Dealing with discomfort isn’t a magical gift. It’s a skill, and you can improve at it.
Think you wouldn’t benefit from some mental maintenance? Think again.
Kayla Lockhart was desperate for relief from the panic that plagued her. She found it at the edge of a stream.
In an excerpt from his new book ‘The Comfort Crisis,’ journalist Michael Easter travels to Bhutan to learn about how confronting death head-on can lead to a more fulfilled life
Champion endurance athlete Rebecca Rusch figured her quest for enlightenment on the Iditarod Trail would hurt. She was right.
When Joe Stone crashed his paraglider into a mountain, his days as an athlete were supposed to be finished. But Joe had other plans.
What happens when a lifelong fraidy-cat sets out into the wilderness alone?
How to embrace tough situations and use them in your favor
Habits and tips to help you get through anything
Expert advice for getting through the winter with COVID-19 as bad as it has ever been
Develop mental fitness and resilience by learning how to face reality like elite runners
Across the West, fire season lasts longer and has become more intense than any time in history—tens of thousands of structures burn every year, and dozens of people die. But new research is highlighting a different problem: those who survive are never the same.
How Spain's Natxo González prepares his body and mind to tackle the biggest swell on earth
BASE-jumping pioneer Jeb Corliss is one of the original madmen, a fiend for the extreme who has miraculously survived multiple crash landings in a sport that rarely allows second chances. Now, at 44, with a self-diagnosed psychological disorder, he's embarking on his most fraught journey yet: into the depths of his own mind.
He survived multiple crash landings that should have killed him. But as Corliss sees it, risking everything was the only way to live.
Wilderness pros are trained to deal with physical injuries, but what about the psychological trauma that can result while on an expedition, from fear and stress, or from watching someone die in a fall, an avalanche, or whitewater? Australian psychologist and mountaineer Kate Baecher created a training program to equip guides and athletes with a tool kit to handle the worst mental distress we encounter when we're far from help.
Wim Hof's teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges have attracted millions of followers who swear it has cured everything from depression to diabetes and makes them happier and stronger. Our writer traveled to Iceland (naturally) for a deep dive with the man and his methods.
How self-determination theory can help you survive the long, drawn-out pandemic
From pizza to ultramarathons, what's the best way to chill out?
When the going gets tough, which sensation actually slows you down?
New research says yes. Fortunately, there's something we can do about it.
How a dog and a fly rod can be the perfect prescription
On trail running, trespassing, and what your neighbors do or don't owe you
One day, Michael Shattuck started to run. He liked it, so he ran longer, sometimes for as many as 65 hours each week. He never wanted to stop. What was he running from?
As most of the world stays indoors for days on end, we're all feeling varying degrees of cabin fever. Here's how to make sure you come out of it OK.
New research explores why you go slower and feel worse, even though you’re pushing as hard as usual
In his new book, 'The Wedge,' bestselling author Scott Carney travels the world to investigate the surprisingly effective methods humans have developed to rewire our brains and control our response to stress. And it all starts with taming fear.
Wouldn't it be great if there was a technique that would allow us to vanquish fear and beat back stress?
Tricks to making your home workout as easy—and productive—as possible
'Shred It in Place' explores how iconic, untouched routes like the Kitchen Traverse can make this time just a little more bearable
We were already worried enough about the climate. So with COVID-19, how do we cope with a brand-new feeling of helplessness?
Men suffer higher rates of suicide and drug abuse than women. Many are anxious and lonely—and, as a result, they’re all too often angry and violent. Wilderness Collective thinks the solution lies in open spaces, UTVs, and fireside talks. But is that enough?
After a nasty bike accident, journalist Sarah Allely found basic activities impossible. Then she started spending more time outdoors.
Launched by Specialized CEO Mike Sinyard, Project New Day promotes the use of hallucinogens like mushrooms to treat addiction and PTSD
Both substances are being studied for stress and anxiety relief. We asked the experts if and how they work.
Alex Honnold has made a career of facing down risk in the mountains. Because of that, he has insight into how to process that possibility.
Delayed gratification gets harder when you’re overtrained, according to a new brain-scanning study
Whether you’re striving for peak performance or coming back from injury, psychological techniques can help
When your love for the outdoors meets chronic pain, you grieve—and then you adapt
The quality of your habits determines the quality of your life. Here's your step-by-step guide.
A new meta-study, which followed 267,000 people, sheds a few answers
An expert's guide to sticking it out through pain and suffering
A new study looks at the effect of subtle wording changes on the performance-boosting power of motivational self-talk
The world-champion obstacle course racer has had a 20-year history with anorexia. But now she's in the process of recovering, and she has some important lessons to share.
Cal Newport, author of 'Digital Minimalism,' explains how we need to reimagine our relationship with technology
Or how running and meditating both led one woman to the same unexpected place
Society has primed us to care about ego and status. Here's how to get past that.
In 'Beautifully Savage,' boxing-gym owner Joe Buckner recalls his troubling history and how that's shaped him into the man he is today
Katie Arnold, author of the new memoir Running Home, talks about the unique healing power of endurance sports
Our favorite gear to increase work-hours productivity
In Nepal, where mental-health issues are widespread following a long civil war and the 2015 earthquake, one organization offers counseling alongside primary care
Studies show that your emotions spread further than you think
On polar madness and other games the Arctic plays with the human brain
Most accomplished athletes, from Alex Honnold to Mikaela Shiffrin, have rituals they perform before a big day
Author Caroline Paul talks to Tim Ferriss about what she learned battling blazes—and how those lessons enabled a life of adventure.
As America wrestles with high rates of suicide among military personnel and veterans, outdoor programs have been offered up as a promising treatment. Dan Sidles seemed like the ideal candidate: an Iraq War vet who suffered from PTSD, he tried to find a renewed sense of purpose through climbing and mountaineering. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough. Brian Mockenhaupt explores the final years of a tortured friend.
A massive new study confirms the mental health benefits of exercise. Don’t let the negative spin get you down.
Devon Yanko was sexually abused as a teenager. It took hundreds of miles for her to run away from the trauma.
New research finds that those who can identify and regulate their emotions keep pushing when the going gets tough
Scientists point the finger at the brain chemical adenosine for the endurance-sapping effects of mental fatigue.
The British and Canadian governments are tackling athlete mental illness. So why can't we?
The less you worry about making mistakes, the better you’ll perform
If you pick the right class, it's an invaluable tool for building strength, flexibility, and resilience
I'm approaching 30 and haven't competed in years, but that pre-race dread is much bigger than running
At 43, the five-time Olympian seems indestructible
The effort paradox explains everything from mountain climbing to buying IKEA furniture
Thanks to new equipment and a more holistic approach to training, they turned a dismal 2014 showing into a commanding lead this year
Our columnist literally wrote the book on peak performance, but he had to reconsider everything after an unexpected battle with mental illness
She just made her first national team—after 13 failed attempts