comp coping tips

[fascination]

so I was thinking...perhaps a thread to share random comp coping strategies:



naps...your sleep will be poor...nap whenever you can
hydrate even when you don't feel like it
flips flops without the toe thing or slide on shoes when not in your dance shoes....
mouthwash and baby powder on hand at all times to minimize your offenses

 

[Joe]

naps...your sleep will be poor...nap whenever you can

IF you can.

 

[fascination]

where there is a will...oh, reminds me, BTW...


EARPLUGS...excellent for hotels...and your cell phone alarm will still wake you

 

[samina]

comfy sweats for before & after... oh the relief!

 

[BM]

flips flops without the toe thing or slide on shoes when not in your dance shoes....

I have cheap fuzzy slippers that I love.

I try to take time to watch the comp before competing. If I spend the entire time warming up I get anxious, and frequently when I watch, I have friends to cheer for.

 

[wyllo]

Snack food! You never know when or if you'll be able to have a meal. And by snack food I do mean something healthy, you don't need to crash from a sugar high in the middle of a five dance set.

 

[Me]

Snack food! You never know when or if you'll be able to have a meal. And by snack food I do mean something healthy, you don't need to crash from a sugar high in the middle of a five dance set.

I think that is important. When you're travelling it can be hard to 'eat right' but even McDonalds has salads these days, though the sodium levels are a bit high.

I don't compete so much as I perform, and I always have to make sure that day that I have a. taken my vitamins and b. had plenty of fluids.

I think one of the WORST things you can do is have a 'large breakfast' (fried eggs, pancakes, etc.) You justify it by saying you're 'stoking up' but all you're really doing is glutting on fats, sugars, and sodium.

 

[samina]

Snack food! You never know when or if you'll be able to have a meal. And by snack food I do mean something healthy, you don't need to crash from a sugar high in the middle of a five dance set.

definitely.

 

[Twilight_Elena]

I have cheap fuzzy slippers that I love.

I try to take time to watch the comp before competing. If I spend the entire time warming up I get anxious, and frequently when I watch, I have friends to cheer for.

Legwarmers and sneakers.
Also, I found this lovely see-through sweater from Gap (only 7 quid from the Cancer Research Shop!) and it's great for warm-ups and breaks.

 

[BM]

Also, I found this lovely see-through sweater from Gap (only 7 quid from the Cancer Research Shop!) and it's great for warm-ups and breaks.

I think I know the one you're taling about: I wanted one but they were all massive on me (pretty picked over, last I went)

 

[biggestbox]

ear plugs, some times you just need some quiet time.

 

[Indiana_Jay]

ear plugs, some times you just need some quiet time.

And some times, the music system is painfully loud.

 

[skwiggy]

This thread seems to be going more towards supplies to bring than a mindset which is what the title led me to believe. As far as supplies go, bring a robe or sweater so you don't get too cold between rounds.

 

[JohnLL]

I tend to have some "non-ballroom" music on my Ipod and if I have a long wait I'll usually find someplace semi-quiet to sit/lay down. I'll listen to something relaxing and try to focus on something besides ballroom for 15 minutes or more.
I get very wound-up/tense at comps most of the time so this is almost liking flipping a switch and usually gets me more relaxed and focused.
Also helps to do stretching excercises before dancing (this is actually more of a requirement I think than an option).

 

[fascination]

take bathroom breaks even when you don't need them so you won't need one when you can't have one...always have safety pins, eylash glue and superglue...always