How to Stay Calm and Carry on this January.
The end of the year is right around the corner. Summer was gone in a blink of an eye. We were just starting to admire the beautiful changing leaves, and in a mere two weeks or so, a whole new year was upon us, which will likely pass by just as quickly.
With the flurry of passing days (and snowflakes, depending on where you are) also comes the chaos of trying to fit everything into our days. Our busiest season approaches with the looming cloud of never ending to-do’s, but also the excitement of new members and new goals.
The same tools we enacted to rejuvenate during our quiet time will be the same ones that lead us through not only the hectic ones, but all year round as well: Feeding ourselves well, resting properly and ensuring we get a mental break, too.
I spoke with an industry professional about how she maintains focus and keeps her head in the game during this approaching time of year.
“As a trainer, our job is to train … to train the body how to succeed. People feel more confident when they’re successful,” said Paisley Sowell of Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arizona. “I challenge people to eat healthy, workout hard and get enough sleep. Trainers need to be role models.”
Spend the extra time that you can with family and friends, but make sure you’re still taking advantage of this time to sleep.
Paisley has this down to an art. “During this busy holiday season, I set an example by getting to bed early to give my clients the best training sessions,” she said. “Hysteria is contagious. I believe energy is as well. In order to have energy to share with my reoccurring clients, I need to be well rested, eat healthy and feel good. I plan out my schedule wisely with clients, making sure I get a good night’s sleep, especially for the early bird clients.”
When proportioning your meals and holiday goodies (the 80/20 rule), remember to save yourself the sluggishness (and belly-ache) of overindulgence. Paisley shares the wealth so as to not throw herself too far off track. “Clients love to gift me gifts … the kind of sweets you’d die for. I set an example by just tasting and sharing the goodness in order to stay physically fit.”
Lastly, take time to have quiet moments. Turn your phones off or on silent, and be present with whomever you’re with. Bask in solitude and peace. It does the soul good.
“Having a newborn at home, I try to keep my work to a minimum at home,” said Paisley. “With the ‘new year, new body’ approaching, more clients tend to want to train. I set up a schedule where I can have some downtime for myself to re-energize for the next client.”
What an excellent example to lead by. Make sure you’re living a life outside of work and making the most of every moment.
What about you? What do you do to keep yourself on-point amidst the new member influx?
Lindsey Rainwater is a consultant and coach to the fitness and wellness industry. She specializes in business development and leadership. Currently she is working with the Fitmarc Team helping health club owners all over the South Central region of the U.S. propel their businesses forward via group exercise solutions. For more information about Lindsey, follow her @lindseyrainh2o.
