The art of balancing work, life and sport
A good work-life-sport balance means you have harmony between the different aspects of your life. There is no secret that juggling work, your personal life and sport can be difficult however achieving a good balance is important for both your physical and mental health.
Tips for improving your work-life-sport balance
Know your values
Taking the time to consider your values and what is important to you is the first step to improving your work-life-sport balance. To do so you may wish to consider the following questions:
- When do I feel the happiest?
- When do I feel the proudest?
- When do I feel the most fulfilled and satisfied?
Practice time management
Utilising calendars, apps and to-do lists are great strategies for planning your time. Mapping out your work, personal and sporting commitments ahead of time allows you to review your typical week and eliminate ‘time wastage’, where possible.
Ensure you set aside time to do other things you enjoy
Once you have established your values, pay special attention to the activities or topics that bring you joy or benefit you as you may prioritise these activities and make more time for them in the future.
Set boundaries for your time
Setting boundaries is one way you can practice self-care. Your time is valuable and it is important that you protect how you spend it! In terms of time, learning to set enough time aside for each area of your life and avoiding the over-commitment of your time is important.
Schedule downtime into your schedule
Rest is vital to achieving optimal performance as it improves both physical and mental wellbeing. Finding a relaxation technique you enjoy and incorporating small sessions into your daily routine is a great way to start. This may include practising mindfulness, yoga, reading, listening to music or any combination of these activities.
Establish a strong support system
Ensuring you have a strong support network is also important due to the vital role of social support in caring for your health. Prioritising time with your family, friends and loved ones is one way of nurturing your relationships and strengthening your sense of social connection.
Share your strategies and support others
Many other people are likely experiencing the same struggle you are. Sharing your experiences may help you learn from each other.
Ensure you prioritise nutrition, recovery and sleep
Nutrition, recovery and sleep are key factors in ensuring your ability to continue balancing all of the demands present in your life.
Acknowledge that sometimes you may not get the balance right
- Learn from your experiences
- Reflect on how to avoid the imbalance in the future
- Practise writing in a diary about your challenges and experiences
- Don’t be too hard on yourself
