Balancing Career and Fitness Goals

-- As authored by Somtirtha Singha Choudhury , AGM Sales and Marketing Team Karle Infra Pvt. Ltd.

Balancing the demands of a professional career, family responsibilities, and personal health is a challenge in today's fast-paced world. Achieving this balance requires a strong support system, a cooperative environment, and the grit and determination to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles.

Reflecting on my earlier years, I remember being incredibly active, dedicating 4-6 hours daily to sports and physical fitness. However, as my career and family obligations grew, maintaining that level of activity became increasingly difficult.

A pivotal moment came during a football game. My regular team lost a match, and it was clear my fitness issues that played a significant role in this loss. This experience was a wake-up call. I realized I had been neglecting my fitness, making even simple tasks like walking across the Karle Town Centre campus or stretching out for something, increasingly challenging. The football match loss was a day of reckoning and realization. It was disheartening to see that activities I once loved were now hard to sustain.

Fortunately, at Karle Infra, we enjoy a culture that prioritizes physical fitness and emotional well-being. The company offers opportunities to engage in various activities, such as football tournaments, fun games and house competitions in athletics, cricket and more. These experiences provide a morale boost, improve inter-departmental connections, and help us stay fit and healthy.

In addition to internal activities, we also get chances to represent Karle Infra in events outside. One such opportunity was the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, where the company allowed 30 employees to run in support of Habitat for Humanity as part of our CSR program. I quickly signed up for the 5k event on the day with the intention of completing the 5-kilometre run in under 50 minutes. The idea of running for a cause only added to the initial enthusiasm to sign up for the event.

The TCS World 10K event became more than just an event for me; it was a step towards regaining my fitness and well-being. Completing the run wasn't the end goal but a means to re-establish a healthy lifestyle. The biggest challenge to make that lifestyle change was setting up a routine that allowed for regular exercise.

Regular exercise is vital for physical health and mental stability, significantly enhancing overall well-being. The key is persistence—even a bad attempt is better than none. Determined to make a change, some colleagues and I set up a training regime. Chengappa, Abhilash from the marketing team, and I made a pact to utilise the time after our work to begin training for the 5K run. With a campus like KTC readily available, the choice was obvious to make the most of it.

Every day was crucial, and I had to build the capacity to run progressively. Each week of training had us set a time limit, and minimum distance, which brought us closer to our target of 5K in under 50 minutes. Chengappa brought 'motivation' to the group, keeping us all in check with our goals, but the onus was on me to make the change in my daily routine.

Though being part of an active community provided the support and accountability needed to stay committed to my fitness journey, self-motivation was essential in achieving my fitness goals. Incorporating meditation and yoga into my routine calmed my mind and body. Adding to this was my eternal loyalty to the game of football, which now held a more permanent spot in my weekly calendar.

Going back to my roots of playing the sport I loved immersing myself in it, and seeing myself getting better at it, showed me the fruits of the effort I was putting elsewhere with the training in building stamina and strength for the 5K run.

On the day of the run, the nerves had definitely set in to know if I could meet the time limit of 50 minutes that I had set for the 5K, but the confidence was high that even if I missed that time goal, my bigger goal of setting a more fitness-oriented routine had been met. The combination of regular training, a supportive community, and a mix of activities like yoga, meditation, and football within this schedule gave me a sense of fulfilment.

As I crossed the finish line on the day of the event with minutes to spare on the clock to hit 50 min, a wave of exhilaration, relief, joy and a sense of accomplishment washed over me.

This experience encapsulated all aspects of my challenges into a cohesive and visible goal that I could overcome. I overcame a great obstacle and reconnected with my active past, and I intend to stay on this revitalised path for the foreseeable future.

I am deeply grateful to be part of a company that genuinely supports an active lifestyle. Karle Infra's culture has provided the encouragement and opportunities needed to reintegrate fitness into my life. This experience highlights the importance of a supportive environment in balancing professional responsibilities, physical fitness, and mental well-being.

Maintaining this balance requires a supportive network, whether through a positive corporate culture, a community of like-minded peers, or personal determination. Embrace the support around you, set clear goals, and take deliberate steps toward achieving a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

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