Athletic department employees know all to well the work that goes on outside the lines of play. Fans notice the stadium improvements, new jerseys, and ticket designs but the victories and losses are more memorable. They tend to overlook the details that lead to the win. When working your daily grind, you may find yourself getting further away from the details of life that keep you grounded. Here are a few tips for building a life outside of work.
Think About Your Past
Branding is an important aspect of setting your program apart from other competitors. A big part of branded is the history of the program. Universities use old pictures for banners and hype videos. Home game halftimes highlight and honor old championships teams. These remembrances show the growth of the program from its infancy to today. When looking to develop a life outside of work is it important to think about your childhood. What did you enjoy doing? What tasks made you happy? Looking back may give you an idea of what would make for a good hobby.
Think About Your Interests
In many of my articles, I wrote about the facility war in college athletics. Program needs drive facility investments, but the fanbase’s interestsdo as well. When looking to develop a life outside of work it is important to think about your interests. What do you enjoy doing? What tasks make you happy today? Focus on events or tasks that take your mind away from the stress of work. Exercise, arts or crafts, and outdoor activities are great examples.
Think About Your Peers
Athletic departments know all too well what conference affiliation can do for a school. Originally, schools partnered with like-minded institutions within their region. Rivalries erupted from years of competition. Hence, departments and programs naturally compare themselves to their peer universities. When looking to develop a life outside of work it is important to think about your family and friends. What do they enjoy doing? What tasks make them happy? Find a way to enjoy what they do. You may find the time spent together is the more meaningful aspect.
Life outside of work is very important. It brings a piece of mind. It helps you get through the monotony of everyday work. When building a life outside of work, it is important to think about your past, your interests, and your peers. The key is to find a hobby that takes you as far away from work as possible.