With the CrossFit Open workout announcements, comes slight anxiety. I’m sure you’ve been stalking Dave Castro’s next Instagram post about what it could be. You’ll never really guess what he means by the post but it’s still fun to throw a few guesses out there. The “unknown and unknowable” is what the CrossFit Open is all about, so why set your expectations for what it will be? Set your expectations on things you can control.

Nutrition: Properly fuel your body for whatever the Open brings. We know what CrossFit is, constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity. We need the fuel to perform at our peak performance. We practice this all year long, not just during the Open season. CrossFit even breaks down what proper nutrition should look like HERE. That prescription hasn’t changed in years so use it to your advantage.

Sleep: Get plenty of it. Sleep is where your body rebuilds. You’ll be able to recover from previous workouts and perform well on the workout that’s next. Strive for at least 7 hours of quality sleep. 8-10 hours of quality sleep would be out of this world. If you’ve been chugging coffee all day to keep your eyes open, you should pick another day to do your workout.

Recovery: Pay close attention to how your body is feeling. There are a hundred different recovery tools out there for you. Add an extra ROMWOD into your routine, take more time on the Compex, or foam roll troubled areas. Your body needs to be loose and feel well. If you feel awesome, you’ll perform awesome and gain that confidence for upcoming weeks.

Preparation: If you’re doing your workout on a Friday night, prepare ahead of time. Pack your gym bag with all your essentials so you’re ready for any workout. Clear your schedule for no interruptions. Coordinate with your friends so you can cheer each other on. Warm up properly when you know the movements. Dial in the 3 points mentioned above!

Mindset: Crush it! No matter the workout, you’re going to give it your all. No repeats. You’ve done what you needed to do in training and it all cumulates to these 5 weeks. Visualize your perfect reps and top score. You’re ready. Be the Sheepdog!