Work/Life Balance in Marathon Training??? - Corina's Marathon Blog

It feels like a bit of a scam calling this a marathon blog this week. I have only managed one 4 mile fun run and won’t get any more in before the weekend. My work/life balance has been a bit out of balance this week!

There is a temptation to just cram everything in and worry about the consequences later, but I have been in this business too long, and have lectured too many clients about it to do that. Our bodies can handle only so much stress. There are lots of things that count as stress, including work, personal and emotional stress, lack of sleep, bad food, money stress and also exercise. Yes, I know, exercise can be relaxing and a great way to recover from stress but it can also take you the other way. This week I felt that I was already reaching my limits before running so I tried to be sensible.

Our business is changing. We are growing, expanding and trying out some new avenues. This has kept us very busy. It’s a positive stress, but a stress nonetheless. If my primary goal in life was to run a marathon I would need to cut back on the work stress to allow myself to focus on the running. But it’s not, the marathon is a fun goal that I am doing as a hobby. It is important but right now work has to come first.

It is a challenge we face with many clients. How do you fit everything in that you want to do? Often you can’t so it is about making choices and compromises that will give you the best overall results long term. It may mean changing your goals or accepting that you can’t have it all. Other clients tell us that exercising and getting fitter is the most important thing in their lives but they can’t fit it in. Well, if it is truly the most important thing than you can take other things out of your life to make time, but usually what they actually mean is it is important to them after making money, family commitments and socializing. That is fine, just be honest with yourself about it.

I have had to be honest with myself this week and I have questioned my decisions all the time. But I know that if I focus on work a little more right now I can look forward to reduced stress and running more in the future.