How Books Can Benefit a Pro Athlete By Dan grunfeld As I get older, I'm more and more convinced that being an avid reader can positively affect an athlete's performance and, in fact, their career. I only say this from personal experience, of course, because I'm an athlete who loves to read, and I know for sure that I've benefitted athletically because I love to read. Usually, my reading is done for pleasure, independent of my life as a basketball player, but there is definitely overlap that I've become aware of over the years. And while I can only speak for myself on this matter, the recent past has shown that there is an emerging relationship between being a productive athlete and being an enthusiastic reader, particularly in my sport, basketball. Reading has the potential to serve as an effective game preparation technique. As someone who usually reads on game days , I can say that it's a nice way to settle into a calm, balanced state-of-mind in which many athletes perform well. The process of zoning out with a book for a few minutes before a high-powered moment of competition offers a sense of tranquility, and that feeling can translate into a state of relaxation and focus come game time. LeBron also acknowledged this, saying publicly that reading was an important outlet for him to quiet his mind and release some of the pressure of the 2012 playoffs. It seems like reading played some part in helping him block out the noise so he could reach his most productive personal place, physically and mentally, where his immense talents could fully shine. That's the whole point of preparation, and while reading is far from the only way to get ready to play, it certainly can be a useful activity to mix into a pre-game routine. @skybraryforkids @kiddieologie #literature #reading #read #proathlete #labronjames #kinglebron #dangrunfeld #journalism #sportsjournalist #sportsperformance #basketball #sportspsychology #gym #fitness #readingrainbow #kidsshow #educationalshow #pregameroutine #fitfam #strengthtraining #sportsfam #fitfam #nutrition #athleticeatery #toronto #mindfulness #calming #thetastate #Kidsliterature (at Toronto, Ontario)