I don’t know about everyone else, but to me, focus is key. This becomes especially important if it’s a wrestling show where I need to take care of multiple things, to make sure everything runs smoothly.
By default, I can kind of focus on anything, but when I say “anything”, it can be just that. I might not always be in absolute control of where my mind focuses in a given moment. It might serve me well when being observant and having a level of sensitivity to notice some things, but I might have to remind myself to focus on the task at hand.
That’s why I keep some aids in my camera bag. There are a few things I’ve tried before showtime that I noticed to be helpful. I don’t want to endorse any of these, or attempt to share health advice – this is just my personal experience.
First up, I have some caffeine tablets. I don’t go overboard with them, just a little bit to spike up my attention levels. Though there have been a few times when I slept like shit and we had an important show in our hands. During show day, I do remember enjoying an absurd amount, but perhaps the positive effects were negligible at that point.
Next, I might have some nicotine chewing gum. I’ve never been a smoker, so the mildest kind of chewable nicotine I can find can work wonders. I read about its mechanism long ago, but the complexity was a bit above my pay grade, so I’ll leave it at that.
Sometimes I can also have some L-tyrosine with a vitamin B complex. Again, I’m not the right person to explain its function, but this combo is something I occasionally like to have.
Other times, something as simple as a piece of candy can feel really good. If you haven’t had a chance to eat, then a little bit of that sweet, lovely sugar can make you feel invincible. An efficient form of energy, your brain just loves that crap.
I also try to stay hydrated, though sometimes I might fail on that a bit. I think dehydration makes me feel sluggish, and that’s not what I want. I’ve also had my bouts with some muscle cramps, so avoiding those sounds like a great idea.
Ideally, it’s always best to have a good night of sleep, but your schedules might not always be ideal.
There you have it. You might not like or prefer any of those mentioned, so whatever works for you is the main thing.