February 08, 2020 | Tagged Coaching
Improve Your Pace of Life
Pace of life struggle to find balance -- learn ways to have the best life pace
The average person and the average family are under a great deal of stress and pressure created by their "pace of life." According to Oxford Dictionary “Stress is a state of affairs involving demand on physical or mental energy". The rush from one activity to the next, the pressure of arriving on time, navigating traffic, multiple schedules, and commitments leave many of us "stressed out."
Athletes and parents of athletes need to evaluate their life pace. Here are some key areas to stop and consider.
A wise person paces him or herself; the ignorant has only two speeds; hysterical and lethargic."
Physical Pace of Life
Evaluating your athletic pace is crucial for future performance. NBC Camps staff meets with certified trainers each year to consider what recommendations we can give athletes. Trainers are concerned about the rising number of injuries they are encountering in athletes. Athletes who only focus on one sport are more susceptible to stress injuries.
Trainers are also concerned with younger students encountering more serious stress and diet-related diseases such as heart attacks, obesity, and diabetes. Sleeping less, eating meals on the go, not taking time for more healthy options, all contribute to families wrestling with stress and pace of life.
Questions to consider for a healthy pace of life:
- Do you alternate your workouts to prevent stress injuries?
- Do you work out beyond your ability and then must rest and recuperate?
- Do you trick yourself into believing you are in better shape than you are?
- Do you eat healthily every day?
- Do you go to bed at a regular time?
- Do you get at least eight solid hours of sleep each night?
- Is your lifestyle active or sedentary?
Relational Pace of life
Being independent and self-sufficient is commendable but the pace of personal freedom can have a huge effect on the quality of our relationships. When everyone in the family becomes devoted to fulfilling their individual life dreams and goals, the pace accelerates. The pressured schedule leaves little room for meaningful dialogue. The faster our pace of life, the less time we have for relationships.
Questions to consider:
- How much time do you spend in a one-on-one conversation with each member of your family?
- At mealtime, how much time is spent talking to each other and getting to know each other better?
- Has Facebook, texting, and emails taken the place of face-to-face time together?
- Do you feel lonely in your own home or team?
- Do you value the importance of building friendship enough?
Spiritual Pace of Life
Our life on earth is compared to a race, not a sprint but a marathon. If our pace of life is a sprint, our spiritual life suffers. You can't "cram" for a marathon like you might for a test. Similarly, our spiritual life isn't something to cram for. The beauty of spiritual life is in daily training. Taking time to pray, to be silent, to study the Bible, and to consider our life is important to spiritual health.
Questions to consider:
- How much time do you take to be "alone with God"?
- What is your spiritual pace-- steady, long pause then a sprint followed by a long pause, non-existent?
- What gives you inner strength?
- How does your spiritual pace affect your relational and physical pace?
ACTION STEPS--------------
1. Write down all your tasks and eliminate as much as you can for one month.
2. Have a mentor help you evaluate your life pace and suggest changes.
3. Call a family meeting and plan to improve your family relationship pace.
4. Meet with a trainer or family physician and set goals to improve your physical pace.
About NBC Basketball Camps
At NBC Camps we believe each person is an amalgamation of mind, body, and spirit. We believe in training the total athlete. If you think you only want basketball skills training without training the mind and the heart, our program is not for you. What you believe influences your thoughts and your mindset significantly affects your training. Read this article on the importance of mindset. If you believe in the importance of mental toughness, the power of faith, the strength of the mental, spiritual, and relational impacting the physical, you will love NBC Camps. Come check out NBC Basketball Camps today at www.nbccamps.com