by Olga Felder
We all know that sport activities are good for physical and mental health, but how many of us do sports regularly, as a daily routine, as a non-negotiable thing? Here are three powerful reasons for starting your sports routine today and benefit from a whole lot of extra advantages for your (leadership) life.
- You will reduce existing stress and stay healthy.
It is well known that’s sports gives you hormones of happiness: Endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. In the long run, you’ll not only get fitter and more athletic, but also more optimistic, confident, satisfied, powerful – and yes, happier!
- You will train your persistence and benefit from it widely
Doing sports regularly, you’ll learn how to be persistent and be able to wait for a long-term result, because sports is equal to business. You don’t see the result right now, but you understand it’s investment and in long term you know you will win.
- You’ll boost self-respect and self-confidence.
To be devoted to your business, to your team, to your family is great. How about yourself? Where are you in this list? If you did something wonderful for yourself today and treated yourself with attention to your body, it’s a big thing. You will feel that this effort is worth it.
Additionally, you not just take care of yourself, you as a role model inspire your team to do the same.
Practical tips on how to stop postponing and to start today
Usually, when it comes to an effort in sports we say “Yes, I know I need it but… I don’t have time, I have a tight schedule, I also want to spent time with family/ partner/ kid…” you name it.
Now, think this as your investment. You are the main engine in your business/ team. You beloved ones need you healthy and happy. Many of us promises to start from Monday or after vacation or “as soon as I get myself a new pair of sneakers.” Seriously?
What if you start now, within the next 24 hours?
If you want change in your life, you need to make at least a little step as soon as possible. Here are some ideas to help you get going, but I’m sure you know what works best for you.
- If you have a membership in a gym, just go there. No need to work out today if you don’t feel like it. Just come, change, and see what will happen. You might join a class or not, but you also can just simply wait and look around. This is a step already. Just get inspired by the vibe, while you are at the gym.
- You can reach out to a trainer or someone who does sports regular and ask for help or schedule an appointment.
- Change into fitness attire and go for a walk in the park. Simply so. At least for today.
- Or another millstone which come to your mind.
How to stay on track and claim the results you want
Another question is: How to keep yourself on track and how to keep your motivation up during the time before it becomes a habit? I’d suggest reflecting on two questions. First one is:
Why is implementing sports important to you right now?
And the second one is:
What become possible if you do it again and again?
Write both answers down as short sentences or statements and later, whenever you would lose motivation, get back to your answers.
Only you can know the answers to these questions and only you can start doing sports. No one is going to do it for you. Will it be worth it? Well, it certainly was for me: I got energy to go further, to meet challenges consciously and deal with them. I can sleep better, because I reduced my stress and was able to switch between work and life. Additionally, I gain self-respect and self-confidence from this effort. Sport makes me happier.
What about you? Are you ready to start today?
Cross-cultural business navigation and fulfilling life creation with different cultures in the background are Olga’s special fields as a coach and consultant. Moving from urban Russia to mountainous Tyrol in Austria, she certainly knows what a culture crash is. And how to get back into power no matter how challenging the conditions are. With her own expat experience in the back, her passion is about helping professionals to analyse how different cultures influence their performance and wellbeing and to find out what it takes to unlock personal satisfaction and career success in new and unfamiliar surroundings.
As a former founder, entrepreneur and people leader, she knows first-hand how busy, chaotic and demanding daily working life can be. For more than 10 years she is successfully navigating international business environments. The studies of Jungian Psychology fuel her understanding for the humane nature and her passion for individual development even more.
She is your perfect coach if you are keen to tap into your adaptivity and develop strong intercultural skills to flourish in a new environment while staying in touch which who you are.
