How do you remain energized so you do not experience professional burn out?
I know a lot of trainers and fitness instructors who focus on training so many clients, that they ignore their own personal need to stay healthy and excited about teaching/training. It would be great to know what other fitness professionals do to stay excited and energized about working with their clients.
The answers to this so far are oh so good! You must have variety, both in the way you train your clients and the way you train yourself. You must have balance. There needs to be time away when you can focus on things you enjoy rather than giving out. I usually plan Saturdays just for fun. Sometimes it’s a day for bike riding with a friend, sometimes out of town for sightseeing, etc. It’s very important to have that time away. You MUST schedule in your own workouts during the work week, and they need to be varied. Doing occasional races keeps focus in your own work outs. Do what sparks a flame in you, something that makes you come alive. And keep learning so everything is fresh and new. I love reading fitness articles, doing CEC’s, learning new yoga poses, etc. Ah yes, yoga! Even when teaching yoga, I get the benefits of restoration and balance. And each person needs a source. For me that’s Bible reading, prayer, and fellowshipping with like-minded believers. We need to fill ourselves before we can give out. We have to have something of substance within to have anything to give on the outside, so do those things that nurture you! And, of course, give your body great nutrition and adequate sleep.
I like Natalie’s answer, Variety! It is after all the spice of life they say. I have found for myself that doing the same thing over and over again just gets boring, so I train my clients like I train myself, by using variety. And then beyond that I make sure I always have some me time, that is hard for me right now with a full time job and trying to build my business and having a family but I manage.
I agree. Like anything else, you need balance. That is hard to find when you first start out and are trying to build your business, but make sure you have at least 1 FULL day without clients, working out or planning. Leave time for yourself and other interests.
That being said, I am always most inspired when taking classes, getting new certifications and attending conferences/lectures. So pepper those into your time as needed… maybe every couple months.
I agree with Natalie above. Variety, variety, variety is the key! Just as one of your clients could become bored, stagnant and not continue to make progress with their fitness if your workouts with them don’t offer variety, so can we become bored or stagnant if we don’t constantly change things up for ourselves. Challenging yourself by constantly learning new techniques and theories, attending professional development opportunities, and finding new ways to reach potential clients (e.g. writing and speaking) are all great ways to stay on top of information in our field while at the same time remaining energized and challenged.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
