Experiencing a period of burnout in surfing happens to the best of us. We experience it for a few different reasons; it is often the result of something going on either physically, mentally, or emotionally. Uncovering the reason behind why you’re experiencing burnout in surfing is the first step to overcoming it. Afterwards, you can take the appropriate actions to move through it and become a more conscious, happy and healthy surfer!
Burnout can feel like…
- Lack of motivation to get in the water
- Exhaustion
- Not enjoying surf sessions
- Feeling discouraged
- Getting out of the water feeling worse than before you surfed
- Feeling hopeless / anxious about learning or making progress
- Stopping surfing or taking long breaks
Physical Burnout in Surfing
Physical burnout in surfing is probably the easiest one to identify with and recognize. This commonly happens after a few consecutive surf sessions or many days spent surfing in a row. This can happen when fun swells come through and you end up surfing more than usual and it can be common when you’re learning to surf.
Physical burnout can feel like an overall exhaustion in the body, muscle stiffness and soreness, or just feeling like your body needs a break. All of these are totally normal but there are few things you can do to help your body recover and feel energized.
Hydrate – drinking enough water is essential to all the processes in the body. It’s impossible to perform your best if you’re dehydrated. Drinking water or a drink with electrolytes can help, especially if you’re surfing in warm places!
Fuel up! A healthy balanced diet is key no matter how active you are, however as surfers, you’ll feel the effects of a poor diet pretty quickly. As surfers, proper nutrition is crucial for energy, stamina and recovery. The majority of a surfer’s diet should be made up of a wide variety of antiinflammatory foods. This includes: fruit, vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains. No need to be afraid of whole plant sources of carbohydrates, they are amazing fuel for surfers! Enjoy a wholesome balanced diet and watch your surf performance and enjoyment skyrocket! Not sure where to start, check out this article on what to eat after surfing to avoid burnout.
Mental Burnout in Surfing
Overthinking, anxiety, fear, frustration, and feeling insecure in the water can be symptoms of burnout, or lead to it. Mental burnout in surfing has a lot to do with how your mind interprets surfing and the conditions you’re in. When it comes to experiencing these feelings the first thing to do is try to understand if there’s truth behind what you’re feeling. Are the conditions actually too difficult for you, and your mind and body are reacting to that in order to protect you? Have you experienced a scary or stressful situation in the water recently?
Alternatively, are you constantly communicating to your mind and body that you’re not good enough, or that the conditions are too difficult for you? What messages are you sending, what does your internal dialogue sound like?
If the conditions are truly outside of your level, you can take time off and watch youtube tutorials and train outside of the water while you wait for the swell to drop. However, if you’re the source of your mental burnout, try shifting your thought patterns. Speak kindly and with compassion to yourself. Take a moment on the beach to hype yourself up before you get in the water. Take a couple small waves before you paddle the set waves. Work on getting your confidence up little by little.
Emotional Burnout in Surfing
Surfing likes to play with our hearts. The conditions, breaks, and crowds can bring a lot of unknowns to any session and change up the game at any time. Emotional burnout in surfing has a lot to do with our relationship to surfing and how it makes us feel.
Surfing has this incredible capability of bringing our deepest insecurities to the surface – especially when we’re learning. Creating unrealistic expectations for our surf progress or sessions can enhance emotional burnout.
Instead of trying to push through a phase like this, change your outlook. Go surfing with zero expectations. Imagine it’s your first time surfing and you have nothing to compare it to. Appreciate every moment and every accomplishment no matter how small.
Change your mindset and goal from being performance centered to experience centered. Focus on enjoying your time in the water and having fun. Life is too short to be grumpy in the water. Sometimes, changing your board or the break you surf can help with this – when you switch equipment and locations it can help lessen expectations as well, taking some of the pressure off.
Don’t Get Discouraged!
It’s not always possible to avoid burnout in surfing. It comes and goes in phases, or should I say in waves 😉 However, recognizing the different types of burnout and which one applies to you can be a great place to start. Remember, you’re strong and capable of change and growth – you got this!