Delving into areas beyond the scope of the game, tennis players hold valuable insights that can greatly enrich our learning journey. Discover the profound teachings on perseverance during challenging times from the top players.
If you are similar to me, you have probably been enjoying the exceptional tennis matches that have been shown on our TV screens in recent months. Iga Swiatek, the current number one in the WTA rankings, has truly proven herself as a dominant force on the clay court, standing out among all players in my opinion. This sparked my interest in understanding what sets her apart and makes her so successful as the world number one. Is it more than just hard work, considering that all top 100 players must put in immense effort to reach that level? And most importantly, can that elusive factor be applied to learning?
In an interview with USOpen.org, Iga Swiatek's physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach, Maciej Ryszczuk, highlighted a few reasons for her success, praising her work ethic, while also acknowledging the challenges she faced along the way.
"In one way she is very hard working, like everyone–when she's feeling comfortable,
she's pretty happy to do more. The main thing is to push players into uncomfortable
zones in workouts, to make her feel comfortable in being uncomfortable.’’
"When there is this kind of workout, maybe she's not the happiest person on the planet, and she's a little bit afraid of these workouts.”
Is there a valuable lesson to be learned by embracing the idea of becoming comfortable with discomfort in the context of learning, similar to how elite athletes do? To effectively implement this concept, we need to first gain a deeper understanding of what it entails. So, what exactly is the essence of being uncomfortable?
Getting Comfortable with being uncomfortable:
According to Dictionary.com , uncomfortable means ‘Causing discomfort or distress; painful; irritating.’
Adjectives which can be used to describe uncomfortable include: ‘painful, rough, annoying, awkward, bitter, difficult, distressing, hard, harsh, troublesome.'
So, essentially, feeling uncomfortable in this situation means engaging in tasks that are challenging, demanding, uncomfortable, and unpleasant.
Similarly, I think genuine learning also encompasses these characteristics. Sometimes, we overlook the fact that learning is tough, and it's supposed to be that way. When we reflect on our learning experiences, such as learning to read or helping our children through the process, we are reminded of the demanding and laborious nature of acquiring this skill. Mastering the alphabet and phonics demands patience and perseverance. The challenging journey of learning to read involves consistent practice, repeating the pronunciation of each word multiple times. Despite its challenges, reading is a foundational skill that must be mastered. So, have students lost their willingness to put in the effort? Their ability to persevere simply because they have to?
From my point of view, emphasizing the importance of enjoyable and accessible learning is a tactic used by the education sector to make it more attractive to students. However, the reality is that genuine learning is a significant challenge. It requires hard work. It's crucial to recognize that this is an integral part of the learning journey.
According to Brown, deeper and longer-lasting learning results from increased effort. Easy learning is quickly forgotten. The more effort we invest in learning, the more likely it is to be deeply rooted in our memory. Conversely, easy learning tends to be short-lived.
Learning can be complex because it's challenging to recognize it as it occurs, as our feelings are not always reliable indicators. Distinguishing between effective and ineffective learning can be difficult. Sometimes, learning presents itself as a struggle, leading to slow progress, which may tempt us to adopt seemingly simple and efficient strategies, even if they are not the most beneficial.
Learning is akin to preparing for a tennis match for your mind.
Athletes need to train their bodies, just as students need to exercise their minds to enhance learning effectively. Practicing memory recall regularly can reinforce memory pathways, similar to a physical workout, and is vital for retaining knowledge. Improving neural pathways boosts the brain's learning process .
If you aren't accustomed to regularly challenging your brain, it can be as challenging and unfamiliar as physical exercise. Even individuals used to pushing their boundaries, such as professional athletes, may face difficulties.
According to Maciej Ryszczuk, a physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach for Iga, "I'd say 99% of the athletes I've worked with don't enjoy this type of training."
Given that even highly motivated individuals, such as elite athletes, may struggle with discomfort, how can we help children embrace discomfort? As parents, our instinct is to shield our children from discomfort, but it is essential to let them face it to prepare them for life. Much of life involves discomfort.
Here are practical steps to empower your child to handle uncomfortable situations better.
1. Get your child used to doing things that they don’t want to do.
To help children become more comfortable in challenging situations, encourage them to tackle tasks they may initially resist, fostering positive habits. This approach can be applied in various ways within the home environment.
Teaching your child a sense of responsibility can start by assigning age-appropriate chores and gradually increasing the level of difficulty as they mature.
Encourage your child to learn a musical instrument and practice regularly. This will demonstrate the importance of consistent effort in achieving success.
Engage young ones in building puzzles as a way to enhance problem-solving skills and teach them the value of perseverance, particularly when faced with challenges.
2. Ensure that your child follows through on their commitment to a sport without quitting midway.
It is crucial for a child to complete the season of ballet class or tennis lessons even if they no longer find enjoyment in them. This will teach them about commitment and perseverance, emphasizing the significance of fulfilling their obligations even when their emotional interest has waned.
3. Get them into the habit of striving for excellence.
Emphasize the importance of striving for excellent results to your child upon completing any task, whether it's a school project or a household chore.
Whether they are making their bed, setting the table, washing dishes, or practicing a musical instrument, children should strive for perfection and be motivated to perform tasks accurately and to the best of their capabilities.
4. Encourage a growth-mindset.
Psychologist Carol Dweck introduced the concept of a growth mindset, which highlights that intelligence and abilities are not fixed but can be enhanced through persistent effort.
Teach your children the value of continuous improvement in all tasks, rather than hurrying to finish or focusing solely on grades.
Stress the significance of hard work and consistency in ultimately attaining good grades, and encourage them to find joy in the learning process, not just the results.
As students start to see the benefits of their hard work, they will be motivated to challenge themselves further, creating a positive cycle of motivation.
In Conclusion:
Parents should expect to face resistance from their children initially when introducing these techniques. Prepare for some pushback as the student adjusts to the new approach.
It is typical for people to resist leaving their comfort zone and investing significant effort. However, students must learn to tackle challenges and persist without giving up. By overcoming these obstacles, tasks will become more manageable and less difficult to complete. This is when students will start to enjoy abundant benefits and may even achieve what seemed impossible.
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