Sports: Your Ultimate Life Coach, From Field To Workplace

Sports and fitness, have always been an integral part of human life. From childhood, we are encouraged to play and engage in physical activities to keep ourselves healthy and strong. However, the benefits of sports and fitness go beyond physical health. It helps us #BeBetterEveryday in everything we do, from personal to professional lives. 

On the professional front, being part of Curefit - house of cult Human Resources team, I am constantly thinking of ways to enhance the skill development of our people. It is vital for me to keep our teams inspired to push their abilities, and the one way we have found to do this effectively is through #Fitgames, our annual sports fest which we take as seriously as the world takes the Olympics. 

And for me, Fitgames is our way of proving that sports are the ultimate life coach. 

Here are the lessons I have picked up from sports that also spill over into the professional side of our lives:

Sports instil discipline

One of the most significant benefits of sports is the discipline it brings to one. For individuals to excel in any aspect of their personal or professional life, punctuality, coordination, leadership, honesty, and a sense of responsibility to fulfill their duties are needed. The discipline to stick to your goals is what eventually helps you to keep sight of them and keep charging toward them. 

Sports build character

Athletes learn to push themselves beyond their limits and overcome obstacles. They know to work in teams, developing leadership skills. These skills are transferable to other aspects of life, such as the workplace. Individuals who engage in sports and fitness are more likely to have strong interpersonal skills and a positive attitude toward challenges.

Sports enhance mental health

It’s not news that mental health is related to our physical well-being, and sports help both simultaneously. For me, it’s my therapy. Exercises release endorphins, which boost mood and reduce stress. We know that already, don’t we? However, engaging in sports can also significantly improve one’s self-esteem and confidence - both needed to tackle the ups and downs of personal and professional lives. 

Sports foster healthy competition

Whether it’s at work or in life, I believe, some healthy competition is crucial to success, and most importantly to having fun at what we’re doing! It helps individuals strive to #BeBetterEveryday, and at work, this further fuels a culture of support and encouragement - critical ingredients for a strong, tight-knit organization. 

Sports teach goal-setting

Setting goals is an essential skill in personal and professional lives. It’s how we unlock new milestones. Without a sense of purpose, what are we even working towards, right?

For us, Fitgames bring all the benefits of sports together in one event designed to spark the fire of passion for sports in those who are new to it and fuel it in those who have been in love with it all their lives. 

Our commitment to promoting fitness at work with this unconventional approach is what sets us apart from other corporate events focused on employee wellness. For instance, we have employees who only realized their passion for sports while participating year-on-year in the games! Another example of success was seeing a solid 50% increase in participation by our female colleagues from last year.  

Even if one is sitting in the dugout or is there just to cheer their colleagues and friends, one would witness countless instances of all the attributes of sports unravel before them. This reminds me of one of our senior leaders, Mujtabha Magrey, who captained his team, cheered them on and took on a hands-on leadership role even if he couldn’t physically play due to an injury. His love for sports is what kept his team charging forward, and motivated, and that is an example of sports building one’s character. 

While all things fitness breathes into the DNA of our brand, I see, all around me, that sports can easily take a backseat in the busy lives we lead. Sometimes, we just need to make it a priority. Fitgames taught me that. The need for taking time out of my work schedule and spending it away from my work desk. Doing this with our friends, peers, and colleagues at work is the cherry on the cake. 

Best of all this is seeing the positive response we get after every year. I wouldn’t be stretching if I said we’re already counting the days to Fitgames’24. The question on our minds now is - who will win the cup next year? 

By Shruti Walia for #InsidecultTalk