🔍 1. Fix the Bottleneck, Not the Whole Engine

If you’ve ever taken a road trip through the mountains, you know that one blocked tunnel can halt traffic for miles—no matter how wide the highway elsewhere. Your swim technique is the same. Too many of us try to fix everything—breathing, catch, kick, posture—all at once. The result? Frustration and stagnation.

👉 Start with your bottleneck. One lagging area is often enough to slow down your entire stroke. Fix it—and you’ll unlock surprising improvements in other areas.

"Improve one element deeply, and the rest often aligns itself."

🔁 2. Keep Drills Simple—and Progress With Purpose

Let me confess something: I used to be addicted to new drills. I saw one on YouTube and thought, “That’s the one!” Fast forward to 20 minutes later, I’m in the water trying to juggle three different technique thoughts and two drills I don’t fully understand.

The truth? Complexity kills progress.

“Start simple, progress gradually. Master basics before chasing complexity.”

Choose a couple of drills that target your bottleneck and phase them in. Start with drills, then intermingle drill-swim combos, and eventually switch to free swimming with technique focus. This progression builds actual skill—not just more movement.

👥 3. Swim Alone? Doesn’t Have to Feel That Way

Swimming can feel isolating. There's no playlist to distract you, no easy chit-chat like on rides or runs. It's just you and your thoughts, which sometimes need professional help (🙋🏽♂️).

But here's the thing—community changes everything.

Whether you join a local squad, a masters team, or just find a few accountability partners online, surrounding yourself with a support system can break plateaus faster than a tempo trainer ever could.

“Progress shared is progress multiplied.”

🧠 4. Your Brain Is Lying to You (And That’s Okay)

Every swimmer has a mental "edge" they fear. Maybe it’s a long open water swim or breaking through that non-stop 1K. The brain screams, “You’re not ready. Don’t do this.”

But let me tell you something: You’re probably ready. You just don’t believe it yet.

“Fear in swimming is rarely physical—it’s emotional. Challenge the boundaries and discover what’s real.”

I once coached a friend with no swim background to circle swim an island in five days. Not because of physical prowess, but because of belief, coaching, and trust in the process.

🕒 5. Consistency Beats Perfection—Every Time

Obsessed with the “perfect set,” the “perfect form,” or the “perfect day”? I used to be too. But then I realized that improvement isn’t about the perfect 10—it’s about stacking consistent 7s day after day.

“Perfection is a mirage. Progress is built on repetition.”

Set small, near-effortless goals. Hit them. Repeat. Perfection may impress at first—but consistency transforms you permanently.

📊 6. Your Stroke Is Not a Spreadsheet

I love tech. I track watts, heart rate, pace, stroke count... But something changed when I started paying less attention to the data and more attention to the water. My feel for the water improved. My balance improved. My times dropped.

“Data should inform, not dominate. The best swimmers train their intuition, not just their numbers.”

Every now and then, swim without the watch. Listen to your body. Trust your stroke. That’s where the magic happens.

🗝️ 7. A Simple Cue Can Shift Everything

Coaches call them "cues." I call them magic spells. One tiny word or phrase—and suddenly a stroke smooths out, a movement clicks.

Here are two I use:

• ✋ “Up-up” — keeps my lead arm up during rotation
• 💥 “Pocket of power” — reminds me to initiate pull with my chest, not just my arm

“Simple cues = complex corrections distilled.”

The fewer thoughts you have mid-lap, the more efficient—and powerful—you become.