Listen to Audio Here

Game Changing Habits: Optimize your routines in these 4 areas

It's that time of year when kids are going back to school.

During this time of year, the topic of routines comes to my mind.

People are getting back into their normal routines and rhythms.

However, I don't want you to simply go back to a normal routine.

Instead I want you to develop habits that will enable you to become a better human being.

Today, we are going to talk about:

Four areas to implement habits into your routines to help you become a better human being.

Sleep

When people get back into routines, sleep unfortunately is the first thing they let go.

Sleep is vitally important for all areas of your life:

• Your game
• Your joy and happiness
• Your mind and spiritual faith

Make sure you are placing an emphasis on getting high-quality sleep every night.

Your Mind

For those of you in school, this will be easy because you'll have many opportunities to expand your mind.

But don't just learn the material to do well on a test.

Learn the material to learn more about yourself as a person:

• Understand how the Kreb's cycle can help you become a better athlete
• Understand how the themes in Lord of the Flies can help you transcend temptation and have compassion
• Understand how repping out algebra problems correlates to repping out basic skills so you can improve the fundamentals of your sport efficiently

If you are a coach (and not simultaneously a teacher), find ways you can expand your mind as well:

• Learn something new
• Dive into problem-solving, strategizing, and planning
• Take breaks in your day to relax your mind a free it from daily stressors

Your Game

Once again, if you are in your competitive season, this will be easy.

You'll be working on your game daily with your games, practices, and competitions.

But if you're out of season, see how you can still sharpen your tools.

If you play basketball, work on ball handling drills 5-10 minutes before school.

If you play baseball, invite some friends to have some batting practice and play catch.

If you are a coach and out of season, see how you can work on your game as well:

• Do the behind the scenes work that no coach enjoys doing 🤣
• Stay in touch with your players and parents to keep them up to date
• Have barbeques or cook-outs with your team to keep the camaraderie strong

Your Spirit

See how you can enhance your spirit.

As a side story ...

Monks commit their lives to monasteries so they can grow closer to the LORD.

Many monasteries operate on system of bells.

When a bell rings, the monks stop what they are doing, say their prayers, and go to their next activity.

Isn't that a lot like school???

You can make your school day a mini monastery!

When the bell rings to end class, stop what you're doing, take a quick breather, say a prayer, do a brief reflection, and go to your next class.

You can also adopt a habit of doing a quick 1-2 minute devotional first thing in the morning while eating breakfast.

Recap

1. Sleep- Make this a priority to enhance all other areas of your life
2. Your Mind- Understand how what you are learning relates to you as a human being
3. Your Game- Compete if you are in your competitive season, sharpen your tools if you are out of season
4. Your Spirit- Find easy ways throughout your day to increase your continuous connection with GOD and fortify your faith

Athletes and coaches for Christ, I wish you well on your journey of implementing habits that will enable you to become a better human being, and I send love, gratitude, peace, and blessings to you!

May GOD inspire YOU every step of your way,

Kyle