I’m excited to announce that, in partnership with The Scribes, we’ve just launched The Optimalist Guided Journal – a tool designed to bring clarity to goal setting while raising awareness of mood, wellbeing, and daily focus. This collaboration blends science-backed structure with creative freedom, helping you stay intentional and grounded in both productivity and self-care.
The journal features erasable dry-marker pages, allowing you to prioritize tasks, tick off goals once completed, and create flexible daily or weekly schedules that can be updated as your plans evolve. It also includes dotted pages for notes, reflections, and sketches – perfect for tracking progress or creative thinking.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this project possible, especially Michael Reiney, CEO of @thescribesco, and my incredibly talented friend @littletigernyc for the beautiful logo design.
The Optimalist Journal is now available in the Shop section.
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L’Officiel: ¿Qué es el Optimal Performance Training (entrenamiento de rendimiento óptimo) que vos proponés?
María C. Bruce: Es un enfoque que busca maximizar el potencial de una persona en contextos de alto rendimiento. En general, se lo relaciona con el deporte, pero también se aplica a la dirección empresarial y a la gestión de equipos, donde la necesidad de alcanzar el mejor desempeño es constante e hiperexigente. Además, estos profesionales enfrentan mucha presión para sobresalir en sus respectivas áreas. Esta presión puede venir de expectativas personales, demandas externas o por la competencia inherente a esos ámbitos. Por eso, el OPT pone el énfasis en el manejo del estrés y la ansiedad utilizando, por ejemplo, técnicas centradas en la respiración como principal regulador fisiológico. Además, se entrena el “reencuadre” (reframing), que implica un cambio consciente y constante de perspectivas y pensamientos negativos a positivos, permitiendo que los individuos puedan gestionar mejor la presión que sienten. Por otra parte, se trabaja en la resiliencia para sobreponerse a los fracasos o a situaciones difíciles, incorporando estas experiencias negativas como partes fundamentales (building blocks) para fortalecer el carácter y la determinación. La resiliencia se traduce en una capacidad de aprendizaje, de recuperarse rápidamente, y de seguir adelante con el objetivo final en mente.
As a sports psychologist and a mom, I’ve seen firsthand how young athletes can struggle with mindset when the going gets tough. When my son’s team was facing a challenging time, I wanted to provide them with something more than motivational words—a practical resource they could turn to when things didn’t go as planned. That’s how Mental Training for Soccer: Pre-teens & Teens Edition was born.
Featured in Spanish TV, AMC
Featured in Irma Bravo’s book, Graphic Tales From a Manic Mind
Interested in a deeper understanding of our own selves, in identifying our
motives and ways when approaching actions and reactions in life, to finally asserting the importance of looking up to our Mental Health, DLAREZMAG speaks to the person that could clarify all o f these types of concerns. We ask her about STRESS, which has seen a significant increase with the ongoing Covid19 Pandemic, as she says:
“Many people are living with chronic high levels of stress, underestimating its magnitude and impact.
The journey toward optimal performance is rarely smooth. Like many athletes I’ve worked with, I’ve experienced the highs and lows that come with pursuing ambitious goals—injuries, uncertainty, even the setbacks brought on by COVID. Yet through those moments, I was able to apply many of the same principles I teach my clients: learning to regulate stress, stay present, and reconnect with purpose when things get tough.
Much of what I’ve learned over the years hasn’t just come from textbooks or research, but from the lived experiences and resilience of my athlete clients. Their struggles and recoveries have taught me that performance is as much about mental endurance as physical capability. Those lessons became invaluable, especially in the final kilometers of the race, when fatigue meets determination and the mind takes over where the body starts to fade.
Equally important was the support of family and friends – a reminder that every meaningful goal transcends the individual. Their encouragement wasn’t only felt through cheers on race day but in the quiet patience and understanding shown during the countless hours of training that reshaped everyone’s routines. In many ways, the goal became a shared journey, built on collective effort and love.
The road wasn’t easy, but reaching the finish line brought an immense sense of happiness and fulfillment.
Every challenge became a reminder of why the work of mental training optimal performance matters so deeply.
2020/21 goal ✔️
I’m thrilled to have joined these #Powerhouse women to discuss #HealthandWellness in the Esports and Gaming industries at Femme Gaming’s #LadiesPowerHour. Hosted by Camille S., Esports Host of the Year, the event brought together an incredible panel of leaders including Beth Im-Jenkins from OverActive Media, Jihan Johnston, M.Ed. from BeatBotics, and Dr. Maria C. Bruce from NCN Esports Management. Together, we explored how mental health, performance psychology, and wellness practices are reshaping the competitive gaming landscape and supporting the next generation of players and creators
“Celebrating International Women’s Day 2021” was a dynamic Clubhouse event bringing together an inspiring panel of accomplished women from diverse fields. The conversation featured 3x Emmy Award–winning actress Sarah Joy Brown, The Difference founder Bea Arthur, Zendesk VP of Startups Kristen Durham, model and photographer Zosia Prominska, Dr. Maria C. Bruce (MD/Psychotherapist), Director of Fragrance Development Jorgelina Propato, Google Senior Manager Tanya Wacyk-Barker, and international singer/songwriter Coral Campopiano. The event highlighted themes of leadership, creativity, and resilience—celebrating the power of women who continue to break barriers and redefine success across industries.
We’re excited to share that Optimalist, our mental health optimizing app, was selected as a finalist at the Latinas in Tech Startup Competition—an event celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact across the tech industry.
