Navigating Successfully Through a Job : Impact of Sports
Introduction
Throughout history, sports have captivated mankind. Beyond wars and politics, sports has been a constant source of unity among people. As an individual, I was fortunate to be introduced to various games during my upbringing, with swimming and badminton becoming lasting passions.
Over the course of my 12-year professional journey, I experienced two distinct phases: one where I did not engage in any sports, and the other where I regularly participated in sporting activities. This article aims to share my personal experiences and highlight the significant impact that the presence or absence of sports had on my approach to work.
One thing which has been a constant factor over the years across all geographies and sports is the human desire to win the game. Today I will be sharing my experience about my professional life and how the presence and absence of sports had a stark impact on it.
The Impact of Sports
Throughout this article, I will consistently use the term “sports” rather than “activity.” It is crucial to understand the distinction between the two:
An activity refers to anything done leisurely without a specific end goal in mind, such as going for a walk or a casual jog.
Sports, on the other hand, involve associating a goal with an activity. For example, setting a target of walking 5 km, completing a jog within a specific time, or engaging in sports like badminton.
What happens when we associate a goal with an activity? The brain’s competitive aspects are activated, leading to a heightened sense of:
- Focus and motivation
- Improved physical and mental performance
- Exposure to strategy formation
- Triggering of emotional responses
- Adaptability to different situations
- Ability to handle pressure
It is important to note that these influences on our minds and bodies are driven by the release of various hormones at different stages, ultimately keeping our minds and bodies active.
Correlation: Sports and Job
You might wonder how the influences on our brains triggered during sports can help us excel in our jobs.
A job typically involves an input-output workflow. The input represents the effort we put into our work, while the output refers to our expectations from the job. However, even the best companies may struggle to meet people’s expectations in terms of professional growth and recognition, which can happen due to various reasons, such as a company culture that does not support it, lack of visibility for individual contributions, or unsupportive peers. As human beings, we desire recognition for our inputs, and when that recognition is lacking, our motivation decreases, leading to a vicious cycle of uncertainty.
So, how does sports help?
As mentioned earlier, sports provide an avenue to fulfill the desire for recognition and self-consciousness. In sports, our biggest competitor is ourselves. With every goal we achieve, we become better versions of ourselves, and every failure teaches us something new. In this self-sustaining loop of challenges, achievements, and failures, we gain valuable learnings and experience a range of emotions.
Having access to this loop helps make managing the output part of our jobs easier in terms of handling expectations, without compromising the input part of the job.
It is crucial to understand that I am not advocating for completely disregarding the output expectations of a job. However, the variables involved in the outcome are not entirely within our control. Sports teaches us to focus only on the variables we can control.
Now comes the most interesting part of the conversation.
I don’t have time to do sports?
The reality is that many individuals claim they don’t have time for sports in today’s fast-paced world. It is often the first response we hear when discussing sports. The reason for this perception is that sports is seen as a leisurely activity, requiring additional time investment. However, if we change our perspective and view sports according to the definition provided earlier, we will realise that engaging in sports can actually help us:
- Improve physical and mental well-being
- Develop collaboration skills
- Enhance leadership and initiative-taking abilities
- Cultivate discipline
- Expand our network
- Foster resilience
When we rationalise these advantages in our minds, we recognize that participating in sports does not burden us with additional time constraints but rather represents an essential investment that helps us excel in our lives, both professionally and personally.
Summary
In this post, I aimed to highlight the positive impact that sports can have on our jobs and lives overall. You will see that I have used the word Job a lot in my posts. While the world may be obsessed with startups and entrepreneurial endeavours, it is essential to acknowledge the significance of traditional employment and support individuals navigating through their careers. I will continue to share my experiences and insights for those pursuing careers in the job market.
This is my second post in the series “Navigating Successfully Through a Job”. If you want to read the first article in the series please click on the link.
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