I always say that passion is the reason why I do what I do, which is to train, coach, and motivate others for them to become champions not just in sales and business, but also in life. It is also what drives me to maintain a high level of energy in all the training I conduct. Nevertheless, I do not neglect the fact that my body has its limits. It is for this reason that I follow this set of ‘yeses and nos’ when I have a series of training events:
- Yes to more rest. Speaking with, coaching or training people may not be as physically taxing as working all day under the sun or carrying heavy loads, but it is definitely mentally exhausting. When I am mentally exhausted, my body becomes affected as well. Hence, I allow myself to catch up on sleep during my free time. In fact, I would prepare for training for many hours and days but I dedicate the one hour before to relaxing or sleeping so that I feel refreshed when I start. For this to be possible, I always make sure to plan and avoid procrastination.
- No to sweet foods and cold drinks. No, I am not saying that I do not eat sweets or drink cold beverages because I still do. However, I especially avoid these treats when I have training schedules because these will trigger sore throats and other related problems. Instead, I drink hot ginger tea with lemon even while in training. I also drink a lot of lukewarm water. This is quite challenging to me, being a lover of sweets, so I avoid dining out and stocking on sugary snacks when I have training schedules.
- Yes to exercise. Although I generally feel exhausted after each training session, I still do exercise because days, when I am busiest, are the days when I need it the most. Tony Robbins said that “motion creates emotion”, and I agree with him on this highly. When I fail to take a walk or do exercise, I always feel tired and less energetic. On the other hand, I feel pumped up and energized every time I do so. Having a full schedule is the reason to exercise, not an excuse not to, and since it helps me maintain my energy, I always make an effort to include it in my daily routine.
- No to being a superhero. There are people who, because of their goal for perfection, tend to do everything on their own. This is not because they don’t trust others, it is just because, since they know the task well, they can be assured that it will be completed successfully. Well, I was one of those people. Fortunately, I came to learn and realize that being such will drain me out fast, and make me inefficient. Accordingly, I let go of and delegated the tasks that I know others can do for me, and even better. Yes, there is a monetary value in exchange for it but gaining more time for the more important matters is priceless.
- Yes to consuming more motivational content. As my energy reserves get empty after coaching or training, I fill myself up again, not just by eating or exercising, but also by watching or listening to the contents of motivational speakers, especially those who share the Word of God. This really does wonders to me because I can always feel my weariness dissipate when I become filled with positivism. Thus, I made this practice part of my day. When time is limited, I play a piece to listen to while I eat or exercise.
These are the practices that help me keep my energy up even at times when I have multiple speaking or training sessions every day for a number of days. Some of these may be very simple but all of these are vital for my health, and well-being as a trainer. Although I generally have a positive outlook and a lot of enthusiasm, I would not be able to sustain such if I do not take care of myself holistically.
If you are someone whose profession involves teaching, presenting, selling, or speaking, I hope you find these practices beneficial. Otherwise, let me know what you think and suggest.