Why You "Lose It": The Stressors That Push Athletes Out of Their Zone
In the second part of our conversation on "Beyond the Steps," mindset skills educator Ashley Mowrey addresses the million-dollar question: Why does focus disappear when it matters most?
The simple answer is that the demands of the moment—the pressure, the sensory overload, and the fatigue—have pushed the athlete outside their Window of Tolerance. It’s the hidden cause behind performance inconsistency, meltdowns, and burnout.
The Big 3: Common Stressors That Shrink Your Window
Your Window of Tolerance is your optimal operating temperature. Anything that acts as a drain or a threat can instantly shrink it, making you more reactive and less resilient.
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Internal Pressures (Perfectionism and Comparison):
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Perfectionism is a massive internal drain. It sets unrealistic standards that, when inevitably missed, immediately trigger a stress response.
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Comparison is equally damaging. Seeing competitors at a game or tournament—and measuring yourself against them—can flood your system with stress and narrow your focus from your own performance.
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Sensory Overload & Competition Chaos:
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Competition settings are incredibly hard on the nervous system. The combination of bright lights, loud music, constant motion, and crowds acts as a major stressor.
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This sensory bombardment can shrink your window drastically, leading to that "buzzing" feeling or a sudden crash into shutdown mode.
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Basic Needs Neglected (Overtraining and Fatigue):
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Ignoring the basic human needs for proper fuel and rest is a guaranteed way to sabotage your performance. If you are constantly overtraining, not sleeping enough, or failing to eat adequately and hydrate, your nervous system lacks the resources to cope.
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Your Window of Tolerance will be much smaller when these fundamental needs are unmet.
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🚨 Warning, Warning: Spotting the Shift
As a coach, parent, or athlete, the goal is to build awareness so you can intervene and regulate before the shift out of the window becomes a full-blown crisis.
Look for these early warning signs that the athlete is bumping the edges of their window:
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Physical Cues: A racing heart, shallow breathing, hyperventilating, the frantic, "buzzing" look, or suddenly speeding up their actions (trying to rush through a routine or warm-up).
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Behavioral Cues: Increased irritability, snapping at others, or going quiet and checking out (the Blue Zone shutdown).
The Long-Term Link to Burnout 🔥
When the nervous system is chronically exposed to stress—constantly dipping into the Red Zone (fight) or Blue Zone (freeze)—it becomes less resilient.
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We aren't meant to stay in these survival states.
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The Sympathetic Nervous System is in overdrive, preventing true rest and recovery.
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A narrow window drastically increases the risk of burnout, chronic exhaustion, and injury.
By recognizing these stressors and early cues, athletes can build the capacity to stay in the Green Zone longer. This is the ultimate tool for achieving consistent focus, better performance, and long-term well-being.
Look back on part 1/4 where Ashley Mowrey discusses What the Window of Tolerance is.
https://apollaperformance.com/blogs/news/stop-the-choke-understanding-the-athletes-window-of-tolerance-steps
In part 3/4 Ashley Mowrey shares practical strategies and concrete actions you can take to help yourself or your athletes maintain and widen their Window of Tolerance under pressure!
