Sports psychology & performance
Daily research and news on sports psychology, performance and motivation, summarised in plain English with the original sources.
Latest: Saturday, 7 November 2026
A survey of over 74,000 people found that exercising because you enjoy it predicts sticking with it far better than exercising out of guilt or pressure. A small study in older adults doing home exercise found that people with very different motivation levels kept to the programme and got fitter about equally, and Ethiopian runners' success seems to come from community, schooling and academy training as much as talent. The one thing worth acting on: if you want a habit to last, build it around reasons you value and enjoy rather than pressure. The other findings are interesting but early.
Best 5
- Exercising for enjoyment, not guilt, is what keeps people going long term: In a survey of 74,407 people, exercising because you value or enjoy it was strongly linked with keeping the habit for years. Exercising out of pressure or guilt was linked with doing more in the short term, but not with lasting habits. It suggests that how you frame your reasons for exercising matters more than willpower for sticking with it.
- England goalkeeper James Trafford says he moved clubs for his mental wellbeing: Speaking to BBC Sport, James Trafford said he needed regular games to protect his mental wellbeing, and that this drove his summer transfer. A high-profile UK player is openly putting mental health at the centre of a career decision.
- More athletes and performers are turning to hypnosis for nerves and focus: The Oklahoman reports that golfers, other athletes and Hollywood performers are increasingly using hypnosis to manage anxiety, overcome fears and prepare mentally. Hypnosis is becoming a more accepted part of mental performance training.
- Older adults kept up home exercise whatever their starting motivation: In a home-based exercise programme for 88 older adults, people with high or low motivation and confidence followed the programme equally well and gained similar fitness. The study was covered by the science news site Bioengineer. A well-structured programme may help people succeed even if they do not feel very motivated at the start.
- Four mental tricks from sport for handling pressure in everyday life: In The Globe and Mail, Alex Hutchinson sets out sports psychology strategies for staying calm and performing well under pressure, and shows how they apply outside sport. It gives readers practical tools they can use before exams, interviews or presentations.
Top stories
- Exercising for enjoyment, not guilt, is what keeps people going long term In a survey of 74,407 people, exercising because you value or enjoy it was strongly linked with keeping the habit for years. Exercising out of pressure or guilt was linked with doing more in the short term, but not with lasting habits. It suggests that how you frame your reasons for exercising matters more than willpower for sticking with it. Evidence: Moderate · Original source: PubMed
- Older adults kept up home exercise whatever their starting motivation In a home-based exercise programme for 88 older adults, people with high or low motivation and confidence followed the programme equally well and gained similar fitness. The study was covered by the science news site Bioengineer. A well-structured programme may help people succeed even if they do not feel very motivated at the start. Evidence: Limited · Original source: PubMed
- What really drives Ethiopia's running success: community, schooling and hard beginnings A study of 145 people linked elite Ethiopian distance running to resilience built through hardship, pressure from the community, education and academy training. It shows that top performance grows out of a person's surroundings and support, not just their individual mindset. Evidence: Limited · Original source: PubMed
Archive
- Saturday, 7 November 2026: Exercising for enjoyment, not guilt, is what keeps people going long term