How to balance life as an athlete?
At CHOPAR, we know today's demands towards athletes. Only a handful of athletes are lucky enough to be paid for doing a sport they love, and many must balance work life, studies and sports. Even if you are paid for sports,there are multiple other aspects to consider, too. It is important to invest in nutrition and remember to rest. Sometimes we need a complete time out from everything and spend some well deserved off-time with friends and family.
How to get enough time for everything, and above all to get to recover enough?
Our team at CHOPAR consists of many former top athletes. We interviewed our colleagues and collected the best tips for a successful start of the season.
How to get enough time for everything, and above all to get to recover enough?
Our team at CHOPAR consists of many former top athletes. We interviewed our colleagues and collected the best tips for a successful start of the season.
1. Plan and schedule
Well planned is half done. Take out a calendar, a notebook or an Excel sheet, whatever works best for you. List everything you have going on for the upcoming week: work, school, training, camps or competitions. Add rest days, grocery shopping and other events such as meeting friends. Remember to also consider transitions and the time used for transportation.
When you know your schedule, you can prepare better. A pro-tip: Remember to pack your bag ready for the next day so you skip a stressful morning!
When you know your schedule, you can prepare better. A pro-tip: Remember to pack your bag ready for the next day so you skip a stressful morning!
2. Food prep
It is good to start the week with a proper visit to the grocery store and fill your refrigerator up with nutritious food. Try to make larger purchases at once, so that during the week you only needto fill up if needed. Remember to prepare a shopping list already at home.
You should also try planning your meals in advance and cook a larger amount of food for several days at once. Snack boxes are an athlete's best friend. Quick snacks are important, and you should always keep them in your training bag. Remember to have proper hydration, too!
You should also try planning your meals in advance and cook a larger amount of food for several days at once. Snack boxes are an athlete's best friend. Quick snacks are important, and you should always keep them in your training bag. Remember to have proper hydration, too!
3. Make sure you get enough rest
Quality sleep is everything. In sleep, we recover and develop, being well-rested also reduces the risk of injury. Everyone's sleep requirements are different, but a good starting point would be to get 8 hours of sleep a night. Naps work for some and not for others. Remember to also set aside time in the evenings to calm down. It would be a good idea to put your phone away before going to bed.
It is extremely important to also schedule off-days in the calendar, and so prioritize recovery. Not always do rest mean sleep, in addition to sports and work, fun and relaxation are needed. Make time for your friends and family and do the things you enjoy. Try to even fit in short moments for only yourself daily - whether it is reading a book, drawing, or having a delicious snack. You must remember to enjoy life and sports.
Managing everyday life is a skill that can and should be practiced. We can all get better at it, and there are always ways to do things even better. It is also an important skill to prioritize your tasks.
Let's take care of ourselves and our endurance <3 Wishing you a wonderful start of the season!