Why driven female athletes burn out faster — and what to do with Dr. Erin Haugen

Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with sport psychologist Dr. Erin Haugen to explore strategies for managing pre‑race anxiety and building sustainable performance habits for female athletes.Listeners will discover practical tools to calm nerves, balance training with life demands, and build resilience that translates to both sport and everyday challenges.Identify “bravery goals” that focus on showing up despite anxiety, rather than solely on performance outcomes.Use intentional “intent‑setting” or “whoop‑goal” frameworks to align daily actions with core values.Incorporate mental rest (e.g., stepping away from sport, mindfulness breaks) to prevent burnout and boost creativity.Leverage body cues and HRV trends to make informed training adjustments instead of reacting to single‑day data.Practice the “what if I don’t do it?” question to gain perspective on fear, relief, and motivation before races.Dr. Erin Haugen, PhD is a licensed sports psychologist, performance consultant, and founder of Haugen Performance. Specializes in mental health, performance psychology, well-being, and leadership training for those working in demanding industries.Dr. Haugen’s website: https://www.haugenperformance.com/Dr. Haugen’s Performance Consulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haugenperform/Dr. Erin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drerinhaugen/If you found this conversation valuable, hit subscribe so you never miss a new episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform, and join the discussion on Instagram @Feisty_womens_performance. We’d love to hear from you!Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/feistyfest-feisty-media-1943243299#about-this-tripSign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/0GAByRTifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Orca: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo