Advice on Motivation and Improving in My 20s
Hello, I am 23y/o man who swam competitively my whole life all the way through college. My times were decent, but not great and I managed to get a spot on my college team due only to relaxed post-COVID roster limits and a willingness to only swim in exhibition heats at meets. Due to where I lived growing up, I was only able to swim 3 days a week in high school. In college, with a full 6-day-a-week workout schedule + lifts, I was really able to improve significantly by my senior year. I felt that I could have continued to improve even more since I was still getting faster up through the very last meet, but after graduating in 2025 I found myself away from the pool ever since. I did start running and stayed in shape that way at least up until April of this year.
Through various circumstances, I have found myself back in a college this year with a club swim team. I plan to join and compete in club meets, but I have some doubts/questions. I know that I could have improved more from my college times if I had continued swimming regularly, but after a year and a half off (plus with being 23 now) I'm worried that it's impossible to improve anymore. Is there any chance of me improving? The reason I truly enjoy sports such as swimming and running is the chance to improve and keep getting better, and I'm worried I won't enjoy my favorite lifelong sport as much if I'm incapable of improving. I'll still enjoy the camaraderie of being back on a team, but I'm afraid I just won't enjoy it like I used to. I understand that catching back up to my college times will be difficult, but if I truly put in the effort in my 3 swims a week and run/lift the other days, is there a chance of getting back to my peak speed?
Secondly, whether or not it is even possible to get back to that, how do I get over that feeling of annoyance over not being as good as I once was? What tricks and tips do you have for overcoming the lack of motivation associated with this? Thank you all for your advice.