With competitive sports requiring more physical, mental and emotional prowess, it is important for athletes to be mentally prepared. Stockton’s Athletics and Recreation hosted Dr. JoAnne Bullard who is a certified mental performance consultant and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Dr. Bullard led a session on “Mental Exhaustion, Burnout and Well-being” at the Campus Center Theatre on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7 p.m.

The lecture was aimed at impacting the university’s athletes with strategies on how to overcome burnout, maintain good mental health and optimize athletic performance. She stated that the focus was on stress response which could be psychological, physical and otherwise, mental exhaustion, athlete burnout, and well-being as an athlete among others.

Dr. Bullard emphasized that mental training is necessary for optimal performance as an athlete. “In as much as you want to be the best athlete during the season, it is important that you focus on your mental well being because that is the real distinguishing factor between champions and contenders,” Dr. Bullard said. She also delved into other areas like proper goal setting, time management, healthy eating habits, and good sleeping patterns. She stated that all were important for all-round success as an athlete.

She engaged the athletes in a series of games like a ball activity where the athletes asked each other questions in groups among others. Kyla Gillen, a freshman and member of the women’s soccer team shared, “This is really helpful for mental health throughout the sports season.