The Whole Picture

Posted on by Andy Florint

The Whole Picture

What do I mean with the whole picture. To get in the best possible shape for the activities you want to do, you have to consider everything in your life. Mind, body, training, habits, health, work, sleep, nutrition, clothes, family, society, etc. Everything which could be improved can have a positive effect on your fitness and well being.

Family

For most people their family is the most important factor in their lives. For me it is. So thinking how to integrate your sport live with your family is a good idea.

  • Is your sport compatible with your family needs?
  • Can you ensure that you have enough time for your family?
  • Is it possible to make your sport a win-win for you and your family?
  • Does your family support your sport ambitions?

Mind

“Our greatest battles are that with our own minds.” Jameson Frank

This is probably the hardest part to improve and it will take time and mental effort to overcome your own believes and self talk. Especially if your are filled with negative thinking patterns. But if you succeed it will help a lot to achieve the things you want the most.

Points to consider:

  • thought patterns
  • habits
  • self talk
  • attitude
  • believes
  • goals
  • dreams
  • mental health

Body

There are several points to work on or take car off:

  • Endurance
  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Coordination
  • Posture
  • Nutrition
  • Sleep
  • Weight
  • Body fat
  • Metabolism
  • Stress
  • health

Time

In our modern lives time constraints are nearly always existent. In my life this is totally true. So what to do:

  • Using time management methods
  • Focus: What is most important for you?
  • Renouncement: For example reducing television consumption

Work

As sleep, work takes a lot of time from our days. Normally there is no big choice. Even if you life a basic lifestyle you need some money and with a family even more. Combing the necessary with your sport could be an option. For example:

  • Riding your bike to/from work
  • Go for a run in your lunch break
  • Do some stretching at the desk
  • Go to the gym directly after work
  • Disappear under your desk and do some push ups every hour
  • Take the stairs

There are plenty of other options to combine work and workouts.

Equipment

Wouldn’t it be great to walk in a sports shop and state that you want to buy only the best equipment for the sport that exists? Yes this would be perfect and maybe you can do that. Great. But is it really necessary? Will the 10000$ triathlon bicycle make you that much faster? Will the latest, most expensive and lightest running shoes save you from injury? I don’t know. What’s then the point?

The equipment must help you do your sport in any given moment. Not more, but not less. So it must be:

  • Functional
  • Adapted/adjusted to your body (bicycle, snowboard, paddle, etc.)
  • Fit
  • Don’t disturb or hinder you
  • Easy to use
  • Secure

Society

You are part of a club, NGO, political party, community, city, country etc. and everywhere you have a certain roles to fulfill. This may reduce your time for doing sport or reduce your budget (taxes) for buying the latest gadgets, but as humans we are social beings and giving something back, in whatever form, is good for all of us. If you see this time as a recovery from sport and not as a burden it will help you too.

  • Being helpful, friendly, grateful
  • Donating something
  • Paying taxes (without complaining)
  • Do some community work
  • and much more

Not every thing takes your time, but this will give you the feeling to be part of something bigger. Before I get to lofty on this point I stop and I hope you can imagine what I mean.

Summery

I have written everywhere you, but I have to do my homework too. All the points above are on my agenda and it will be a challenge to improve them all. Most probably I haven’t even listed everything. Some of them are easier and some will be harder to tackle. But every little improvement on any point will sum up and eventually help to reach my goals. The first goal is set and I’m running. One step after the other. As you maybe already guessed, I will write in future posts more about certain things from this whole picture. So stay tuned.

 

Just to clarify things. I’m not working for any of the above mentioned companies nor do I get any money or any other benefits from them. It’s all my own opinion. If this changes I will state it clearly. Thanks for reading.