Put Your “Game Face” On To Start the Day: The Power of a Competitive Expression

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Can putting on your “game face” actually motivate you, inspire you, and boost your confidence and grit?

According to a new study published in the scientific journal Stress and Health, there may be a real benefit to putting on a “game face.” In one experiment, they had two groups of participants try to complete a 100 piece black-and-white mandala puzzle. The group that was asked to display a “game face” performed over 20% better on the task, and showed better stress recovery compared to the control group.

These findings are consistent with the facial feedback hypothesis, which suggests that by changing our facial expressions we can also change our mental state. One of the most common studies on this is the idea that smiling can help boost positive emotions.

What is a “game face” exactly? According to psychologist Matthew Richesin, they are facial expressions that are “commonly associated with effort, pain, and competition.” One may even call many of these expressions aggressive.

One of the most famous examples of this is Michael Phelps’ “game face” at the 2016 Rio Olympics before his competition in the men’s 200-meter butterfly final.



Here is the unforgettable “#PhelpsFace”…

As you can see, Michael Phelps’ “game face” is quite menacing and gritty. But you can tell that he is locked in, focused, and has his eyes on the prize. Perhaps it played some small role in helping him win the gold medal?

Interestingly, another related study published in the scientific journal Emotion discovered that UFC fighters who smiled during the staged “face off” were more likely to lose the match. Researchers suggest this could be because smiling can be a non-verbal signal for friendliness and lack of aggression (making them seem “weaker” or not as much of a “threat”). In other words, the opposite of a “game face.”

Successful athletes are masters of their own mindset and attitude. That’s why I believe sports psychology has a lot to teach us about how to be more confident and motivated in life, no matter what it is we are trying to achieve.

Athletes can seem incredibly superstitious. They often follow many small rituals to help boost their performance, such as visualizing a free throw before they shoot, or kissing their necklace before stepping up to bat, or going through the same motions before serving in tennis.

Even putting on a “game face” can seem a bit silly and trivial, but it’s all part of getting in the right mindset to do your best .



Make “Game Face” a Part of Your Morning Ritual

I’m a strong believer in the power of morning rituals to start your day. They are an integral part of cultivating and maintaining a positive mindset on a daily basis.

Morning rituals are super easy – all they take are 5-10 minutes. They are literally something you can do in the bathroom right before you jump in the shower.

Here’s a breakdown of the types of things you can do:

Mindful stretching or Yoga – I do a little stretching every morning for 5-10 minutes before I jump in the shower, just to help wake up my body and get the blood flowing.

– I do a little stretching every morning for 5-10 minutes before I jump in the shower, just to help wake up my body and get the blood flowing. Power posing – I often cycle between stretching, yoga poses, and power poses, which are confident postures you can hold for a couple minutes to boost confidence and motivation.

– I often cycle between stretching, yoga poses, and power poses, which are confident postures you can hold for a couple minutes to boost confidence and motivation. Game faces – Before I discovered the study mentioned in this article, I was already playing with facial expressions in front of the mirror while stretching or posing. Often these turn into types of “game faces” that give me that extra push to tackle my day.

– Before I discovered the study mentioned in this article, I was already playing with facial expressions in front of the mirror while stretching or posing. Often these turn into types of “game faces” that give me that extra push to tackle my day. Pep talk – Repeat a few positive affirmations to yourself out-loud or inside your head. Or turn it into a spontaneous “pep talk” as if you were a coach motivating a player before a game. Have fun with it!

– Repeat a few positive affirmations to yourself out-loud or inside your head. Or turn it into a spontaneous “pep talk” as if you were a coach motivating a player before a game. Have fun with it! Visualization – Take a moment to visualize your day going well. Picture yourself getting things done, enjoying yourself, and overcoming new obstacles with ease.

All of these tools can be integrated into a quick 10-15 minute ritual. Again, you can literally do all of this before jumping in the shower. It’s that easy .

Is a “game face” going to change your life? Probably not, but it’s definitely a valuable tool to add to your mental toolbox.

Have fun with it. Experiment and see how you feel. A big part of influencing your mindset is playing more and trying new things, even if they seem a bit weird or silly at first.



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