Asking the right questions about your swimming

Wherever you’re at on your swimming journey, it’s always important to take a few moments to reflect on the swimming you’ve done and look forward to the swimming you still want to do, says Sarah Thomas

Wherever you’re at on your swimming journey, it’s always important to take a few moments to reflect on the swimming you’ve done and look forward to the swimming you still want to do. The world is covered in water, 71% in fact, which means there are countless opportunities to find new bits of ocean, seas, rivers, lakes and ponds in which to swim. But, before you can set goals and make plans for 2025, you first need to reflect on what you accomplished in 2024.

Swimming is not just a physical attainment, it’s a mental and emotional journey as well. And all three of those need to be in harmony. The New Year is traditionally the best time to reflect on your process and goals – a natural reset period.

I took 2024 off from long swims because I had a lot of “real life” happening and didn’t have the time or energy to focus on another long swim. Other priorities took the forefront and I knew if I pushed for something I wasn’t passionate about, I’d lose my joy of the sport. Instead, I focused on doing the things that made me the happiest and tried to find the balance that allowed me to manage my life as best as possible. It definitely was not the year I wanted or envisioned, but it was the year that I got, like it or not. But, 2024 gave me a chance to reset and I’m able to look forward to 2025 and start listening to the call of the water and thinking about the swims that will bring me joy.

I encourage you to do the same. Really ask yourself some good, hard questions about what you want and where your priorities are. Here are some the things I’m asking myself as I head into 2025:

• Does swimming bring me joy? If yes, how do I continue that path forward? If not, how do I get it back? • Do I feel proud of what I accomplished last year?
• Where did I succeed? Where can I grow? • Did I swim too much, not enough, or just right?
• Did I do enough last year to support my new goals?
• If I could change one thing about my swim journey, what would it be?
• Do I want to get better, or am I content with what I did this year?
• If I want to get better, what does that look like? What do I need to do to support that goal?
• If I could swim anywhere, where would it be and why?

There are no wrong answers when it comes to your personal swim journey as long as you are being honest and truthful to yourself. You shouldn’t be afraid to push yourself to do more if you’re feeling a pull to try something new and crazy. It’s also perfectly fine to step back if you need a break, too. As long as you’re following your heart, you’ll end up in a great place.