Why You Should Train Like an Athlete - Not Work Like a Machine

You know that feeling when you're staring at your laptop at 11 PM, wondering if you should power through another hour of work or finally call it quits? Yeah, me too. As someone who once thought "rest" was just another word for "weakness," I've had my fair share of face-plants into the metaphorical concrete of burnout.

Here's an interesting idea: What if we took a page from athletes' playbooks? The pro-athletes are the epitome of "go hard or go home" – actually plan their rest as meticulously as their training. Meanwhile, here we are, “corporate warriors” and desk jockeys, treating ourselves like the proverbial Energizer bunny.

The Achievement Hamster Wheel

Growing up in an Asian household meant success wasn't just about personal achievement—it was a family affair, like how my cousins’ and my own grades would somehow become the topic at every family gathering. You know what I mean if you've ever had your marks compared to your cousin's (who just happened to get into medicine in some overseas university) over dinner at Grandma's.

Back in school, success had a very specific formula: straight A’s and perfect attendance that would make any Tiger Mom proud. The chorus of well-meaning advice from teachers and family members was relentless—"勤有功，戲無益" (hard work leads to success, play leads nowhere), they'd say, while casually mentioning how Auntie So-and-so's daughter just won another piano competition and was preparing for her Grade 8 Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

Failure wasn't just a setback; it was a public spectacle. (Raise your hand if you still remember that one exam result your relatives still bring up at family gatherings—mine was that borderline pass in Additional Mathematics, which apparently meant I'd never succeed in life). This mindset became more than just a way of thinking—it transformed into a constant companion, like a critical auntie living rent-free in your head, whispering sweet nothings like "丟臉咯，被人笑了" (How embarrassing, people will be laughing at you) and "睡覺是浪費時間" (sleep is a waste of time).

But here's the thing: failure isn't your enemy – it's more like that brutally honest friend who tells you when you've got spinach in your teeth. Uncomfortable? Yes. Necessary? Also yes. It is a time for reflection, to determine what we need to learn to ensure next time we are better able to deal with the situation.

When Athletes Fall Short

Even the best athletes don’t always win. They miss medals, lose matches, or get injured. But instead of seeing failure as the end, they treat it as feedback. They review what went wrong, adjust their training, and come back stronger.

Rest and recovery are just as important as the work itself—because pushing through exhaustion doesn’t lead to success, it leads to burnout. If elite athletes can embrace setbacks and strategic rest, maybe we should too.

The Big Question: Rest or Reset?

When you're feeling stuck (or like your brain has turned into a very expensive paperweight), you might wonder: Do I need a nap, a vacation, or a whole new career? It's like trying to decide if your plant needs water or if you've actually managed to kill it – the signs aren't always clear.

Try asking yourself:

• Am I still jazzed about what I'm doing, or am I just stuck in a "but I've already spent so much time on this" loop?

• If my best friend was in my situation, would I tell them to push through or take a break?

• What would happen if I actually took a real lunch break instead of inhaling a sandwich over my keyboard?

Making Peace with Rest and Failure

1. Treat Rest Like It's Your Job - Because it literally is. Your brain isn't a 24/7 convenience store – it needs to close for maintenance sometimes.

2. Reframe Failure - Instead of seeing it as your villain origin story, treat it like a really aggressive life coach. What's it trying to tell you?

3. Check Your Why - Maybe your goals need a refresh. It's like updating your phone – sometimes you need to restart to get the best performance.

4. Build Your ‘Squad’ - Find people who'll tell you when you're being ridiculous (in a nice way). Bonus points if they bring snacks.

5. Cheers to Small Wins - Did you remember to drink water today? That's a win. Really.

The Plot Twist

Here’s a different perspective – not succeeding doesn’t always means failing. Sometimes it just means you are not there yet. Athletes don’t expect to break record everyday; they trust the process, knowing that progress is always linear. Maybe you’re still building the skills, gathering experience, or waiting for the right opportunity. Growth isn’t always about immediate wins – it’s about staying the game.

And here’s a reality check: elite athletes train intensively for moments that last seconds or minutes. A sprinter might train all year for a 10-second race. They build in recovery time, work with coaches to prevent burnout and carefully plan their peak performance moments.

Meanwhile, we’re out here trying to sprint a marathon – expecting peak performance everyday, 8+ hours a day, 48+ weeks a year. No coach would ever design a training program like that. It’s not just unsustainable – it’s absurd.

So, when was the last time you took a proper break? And I don't mean scrolling through social media while stress-eating cookies – I mean actual, intentional rest? Because maybe, just maybe, that's exactly what you need to level up.

Let’s make this the year we stop treating ourselves like machines and start treating ourselves like, well, humans. Who’s with me? (And yes, it’s totally okay if your first step is taking a nap. In fact, I highly recommend it.)

Want to dive deeper into this whole rest-success-failure soup? Check out these game-changers:

• Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness's deep dive into peak performance

• Christina Maslach's eye-opening research on workplace burnout

• Brené Brown's wisdom on embracing vulnerability

• Richard Thaler's fascinating take on why we make weird decisions

• Alex Pang's revolutionary approach to rest and productivity