How Do I Balance Training, Work, Relationships and Life?
This is a question I’ve found myself answering differently as I’ve grown and matured. One useful way to check in with how you’re approaching a challenge is to ask yourself: Are you all in, or are you all consumed?
When we set ourselves big, scary goals, it’s important to plan. We need to map out when we’re going to push, and when we’re going to rest and recover. How much time are we giving it each day? Most importantly, we have to make sure we don’t lose ourselves in the pursuit of bettering ourselves.
And it can happen. In the past, I’ve definitely been consumed by a goal. I still fall into that habit sometimes — where nothing else matters. I must train. I must sleep. I must eat this exact thing.
Is that sustainable? No.
For a professional athlete? Maybe — but even then, not 365 days a year.
For someone like me, working 9–5, it’s vital to balance training while also prioritising my mental and social wellbeing.
For me, that means being all in — I’m 100% committed to my goal. I’ll do everything I can to achieve it: I’ll hit my sessions, eat well, and recover properly. But I won’t neglect my mental health. A key priority is making sure I feel good — happy, excited, motivated to keep going.
Over the last few years, I’ve become better at spotting when I’m sliding into unhealthy patterns. A big example for me is food. I struggle with body image, and sometimes I’m vulnerable to under-fuelling, or skipping something because it has “too many calories.” When I notice those thoughts creeping in, I know I have to take action. That mindset isn’t sustainable, and it certainly won’t help me achieve my goals.
This isn’t just about running. All of us face stress in different forms — challenges that demand more time and energy than we’d like. The key is how we show up to face them. We all have the ability to approach life with a calm, balanced mindset, without letting one thing bleed into everything else.
Why? Because life goes on. Tomorrow is a new day. As long as we do our best — and look after ourselves mentally and physically — things will be okay.
One bad day or bad run doesn’t define you. Just like one good day doesn’t make you a hero, and one good run doesn’t mean you’re suddenly Mo Farah.
Balancing life, training, relationships, work, and stress — it all comes down to committing to each aspect of life and doing your best, day by day. Some days are better than others, but if you keep showing up, keep doing yourself proud, and keep striving to be a better version of yourself — that’s where the real progress happens.
