Peak performance

Usain Bolt avoids thinking about his weaknesses before a race. Sometimes he thinks about how he will celebrate if he wins.^[1]

Usain Bolt beating Tyson Gay and setting a 100 meter world record at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany.

In the field of psychology, particularly sport psychology, peak performance is a mental and physiological state that is also known as peak experience, the zone of optimal functioning and flow. It specifically refers to a moment when an individual puts it all together, when they are in the zone of "flow state", and when they achieve an exceptional performance.^[2]

According to Medical News Today:

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The term “flow state” describes a mental state in which a person is completely focused on a single task or activity. They are directing all of their attention toward the task, and they do not experience many thoughts about themselves or their performance. Some people refer to this informally as being “in the zone.”

The concept of flow comes from the field of positive psychology, which is the study of things that help humans thrive. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who was an influential part of the movement, coined the term.

Flow has similarities with mindfulness, as both involve a focus on the present moment. However, people often use the term “flow” in reference to situations in which they are being productive, whereas a person can be in a state of mindfulness regardless of whether they are doing a task.^[3]

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Performance anxiety can hinder a person when it comes to peak/exceptional performance.