Tempus fugit. Time flies.
In recent weeks and months I have been challenged on a variety of things. Its not been easy, in fact I believe the hardest challenges are yet be to come.
Some personal challenges. Others work related, however, they all involve "time" in one way or another. Time it takes, time management, the time we have left, spending time, taking time or making time. Can we 'make' time?
As a Queen fan, I enjoyed the Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. As an aside, just how good was Remi Malek in that?
There is a scene in the film when Freddie is talking to Jim Beech, Jim says, “Just give them some time.” Freddie responds with, “What if I don't have time?”
We know the statement in the film is due to Freddie being diagnosed with AIDS and has a limited amount of time left. But that statement hit me like a brick... “What if I don't have time?”
“The universe doesn't allow perfection.” - Stephen Hawking
One of my greatest weaknesses is dwelling on things. Not just as a coach but as an individual. Perhaps its just me being me. We all have our imperfections.
What if I don't have time?
As a coach, I hear those words. They echo...
When you consider coaching, we use 'time' every day. Time of the session, warm up time, length of time for an interval or a recovery. Time to eat. Time to sleep. Time of sleep. How much time should I spend on that? How much time should I? There is that word, Time... time... time...
We all have a limited amount of time. Not just in our everyday lives, where we have to fit in work, family, life... but in life.
We all know we measure time in hours, minutes, seconds. We can go bigger: days, months, years, decades or centuries. We can go smaller: tenths of seconds, hundreths etc. But how much time do we really have?
Now I am not going to suggest that athletes have more time than they do, or that family time is less important. Far from it. I promote a balanced lifestyle to athletes.
What I am suggesting is that athletes are realistic with the time they have available… respect it and maximise it. Commit to it.
This does not mean absolutely smashing yourself for the whole time available. Absolutely not. Easy sessions are essential to aid recovery, fend of DOMS and build endurance.
Committing to it does mean utilising your time to give you the best opportunity for a solid performance at your races.
I am implying that you do not waste that time by:
- Being late to the session
- Pushing too hard in the warm up
- Stand on a pool deck talking
- Not having your equipment ready
- Not maintaining your equipment...
The list can go on.
“You live in your head too much, you curl up and shut shit out and spend so much time doing it, you forget to live your life. You can’t live your life in your head. That isn’t living.” - Kristen Ashley
How many of us waste time?
All of us. It's so easy to do. Checking your mobile, oh what happened on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. Scrolling through screen after screen. Then you check other apps, the news, then emails, why? I don't actually have an answer... other than… it's easy to do and we can.
Check out our Performance Coaching
I am pretty sure we are all guilty.
It's easy to procrastinate about what we are going to do, without actually doing it. We just let the precious commodity of 'time’ drift away.
I recently started being very strict with myself. Emails get checked twice a day. My phone is switched off after 8pm.
I was doing pretty well too… but then...
Of course it goes out the window when something happens that means you need that phone switched on… however, I am still doing my best to ignore all the other shite.
I encourage my athletes to limit their time wasting. Making sure they go to bed early rather than spending the commodity on social media. Ignoring the notifications which say you have so many likes.
From a training point of view, don't be that person who is always late. Don't be the one without your equipment or water bottle. Make sure your bike is clean and ready to ride. Make the most of the time you have to train. Don't waste it.
Remember, the most valuable thing any coach will give you... is their time.
Get on with it. Live life. Enjoy your swimming, cycling and running... or any sport come to that. Whatever, floats your boat, but don't waste time. Make the most of the time you have, there is no chance of getting more later.
“Only time, whatever that may be, will tell.” - Stephen Hawking
