How swimming can help you regenerate

There's a popular motto about work ethic: Hard work is a prerequisite for every success. There can't be any objection to that. Without hard work, you can't reach success. The notion, however, seems to have a kind of “missing point”: How can one combine hard work with effective outcomes? Why do some people achieve better results than others albeit they don’t work harder than others? Well, it all has to do with energy and how well we use it.

Balanced use of energy is essential

Let's take a hypothetical example: Let's assume that we have two individuals who work in the same sector and have the same abilities. If we give them the task of completing the same project, there will definitely be differences in the final result. One project will be better than the other. But why? Since both individuals share the same skills, why don't they produce the same result?

An essential reason is stamina and management of fatigue. People have a certain amount of energy to spend on their daily tasks. Therefore, balanced use of it is essential for achieving optimal results. Feeling highly energetic creates the ideal conditions of reaching excellence. On the other hand, if you feel whacked, it's highly unlikely to reach your potential. Taking the assumption one step further, we could safely argue that a less skilled professional who maintains high levels of energy in his/her work would be more efficient even from the best-skilled colleague who would yet be exhausted.

The burn-out effect

Such occasions are very usual in current workplaces. This brings us to another implication that can even have very harmful consequences: The burn-out effect. The exhaustion, stress and constant unease that are part of the daily lives of million professionals around the world. According to Gallup research conducted five years ago, 2.7 million workers in Germany, reported feeling the burn-out effect. Similar results were documented in the UK, where a 2013 survey found that nearly 30% of human resource directors reported a widespread burnout within their workplaces. Burn-out seems to spread like a virus all over the Western world. But it didn't come out of anywhere. Instead, it seems like the natural outcome of the increasingly stressful conditions that most people meet in all aspects of their daily lives. Burnout is now a legitimate medical diagnosis. Whether it's a demanding job, an unhealthy family environment or a toxic relationship, it's obvious that it harms the quality of life and can endanger the overall health of those who suffer from it.

How swimming regenerates

All problems have their solutions and it couldn't be otherwise in this case. The first way to deal with a problem is to realise its roots. When it comes to over-exhaustion, it's quite obvious how one could effectively tackle it: Take a break and release all tension and negative emotions. One of the best means of achieving that is through swimming sessions. Just gifting ourselves with the “privilege” of engaging with a favourite activity could boost our morale, confidence and productivity to enormous levels. You would promptly feel the great benefits from the first contact to water till the point where you will move within it. Either it's the sea or a swimming pool, a river or a lake, they will feel like the recharging sources that we all need so much. The calming effects of water combined with the effortless movement of the body create the ideal conditions for letting yourself go, regenerating and seeing the world with different eyes. Making it a daily habit could produce outstanding results in regards to keeping energy levels up.

Quality vs Quantity

There seems to be a contrast between two different mindsets: the quality vs quantity debate. The latter school of thinking stands for the importance of working hard, of spending a great deal of time completing a job, if necessary to work beyond the defined work schedule. Everything depends on achieving predetermined quantitative objectives, e.g. writing ten reports a day. On the other hand, the qualitative approach supports the notion of aiming in managing to produce quality outcomes. The quality approach would support that writing ten dull daily reports is not more important than writing seven insightful and interesting. This is a contradictory work culture that is still ongoing. During the last couple of decades, a greater number of managers seemed to shift from the traditional quantitative approach towards the qualitative one. In several big companies around the world, there are scheduled hourly breaks within the working day or planned fun games among the personnel for relaxing and strengthening their relationships. Such games can include the visit to a swimming pool for a swim session that would revitalise the minds of the employees. What matters most in all cases? Keeping a steady, healthy and confident mindset during all our activities in life. Taking all the necessary time for recharging our batteries. Arranging short breaks for regenerating. Swimming can be a great facilitator for reaching this state of mind.