How to Balance Your Social Life & Your Football Career

Balancing Your Social Life & Your Football Career:

When some people think of football, they immediately think of art, beauty and expression, and the beautiful game.

But, for some, thinking of the beautiful game puts thoughts of party, drinking, clubbing and trouble in their mind.

This obviously differs from person to person, but sometimes these two subjects feel like they go hand in hand, no matter who you talk with.

Some players are known as “party animals,” which may give them some fame and recognition in the media, but I am sure their coaches’ and clubs’ aren’t a fan of this type of recognition.

I am sure these clubs’ would rather have their names in the media for their on-field performance, rather than their off-field performance.

Whether a footballer should be “allowed” to go out and party is a highly debated topic within the football community.

Some players get their mind off of the beautiful game with a nice dinner with friends, walks along the beach, fishing or watching movies, but some also like to go out and have a good time with friends.

 Should Footballer’s Be Allowed to Party?

If you think about it, they are also human, and deserve to have a good time. But this “good time” should obviously be done with massive responsibility and thoughts about how youngsters’ look at them as role models for their own life.

If you are a professional footballer or an aspiring professional footballer, you may ask yourself time to time “is it okay for me to go out and have a good time?”

The simple answer is: OF COURSE, you can, but it needs to be done in moderation and responsibly.

Discipline & Balance are the Key:

Each person may view it differently, but, personally, I believe DISCIPLINE & BALANCE both come into play here.

DISCIPLINE & CONSISTENCY are the two of the most important traits to be “successful” in any field, especially if you are a professional athlete.

Whether you realize it or not, being a professional athlete is a 24/7 job. It is not just about what you are doing on the field, but it is also what you are doing off the field to take care of your body, and the ability to prepare your mind and body for every time you step on the field to perform at your best.

There is no question that in order to be a professional footballer, you have to be DISCIPLINED & CONSISTENT with everything you do in order to reach your maximum potential.

You have to have RAZOR SHARP FOCUS & CONCENTRATION to do these things day in and day out, no matter how you feel (CONSISTENCY).

But, you also need to be able to find a BALANCE of having 100% foot on the gas pedal of always training and thinking about football, and then having the ability to let go a bit every once in a while.

There is ALWAYS is and NEEDS to be a time and place to have fun, and enjoy yourself with friends and family!

ENJOY doesn’t mean “go get hammered” with the boys and cause ruckus. It means going out with friends and family and letting your mind off of your 24/7 job of football for some time. Generally after a hard-fought match, where you earn 3 points on the weekend, the last thing you want to do is watch and talk about more football.

Of course it will come up in conversation from time to time but it won’t be the main topic of discussion. Some times, it is nice to meet with other people who are involved in other fields and have other careers’ to hear their thoughts and opinions in life.

Believe it or not, this “slight release/let go” will allow you to perform better once you step back on the pitch, because you will be refreshed and recharged, as long as you didn’t overdue it, if you know what I mean ;).

As with everything in life, you have to find a “happy medium,” that works for you, which is much easier said than done.

The Ability to Have an On & Off Switch:

In a recent podcast interview, Rich Roll talks with a neuroscientist named Andrew Huberman who specializes in high performance about the unique ability of high performers.

As we both know, high performers in every field are very unique and special in their own way, otherwise, they wouldn’t be at the top of their field.

I think that we can both agree that footballers’ are HIGH PERFORMERS.

In the interview, Huberman states:

“High Performers have this ability to turn on a switch and turn off a switch in an instant. They have the ability to toggle between states of EXTREME FOCUS & EXTREME RELAXATION.”

If you want to listen to the interview (which I couldn’t recommend enough), here it is:

Huberman talks about how high performers need to be able to focus on a task in extreme detail for a period of time, and then after they are finished, they need to completely relax and unwind.

He states that without this, these performers could never be at their best because without the relaxation and recharging, the learning could never take place.

How does this relate to football and partying?

During training, during a match, during your gym work; you should be 100% focused on the task and 110% all in to perform at your best.

After you are finished, you should have the ability to completely let your mind and body be at ease, so you can recover and get back after it the next day.

As previously stated, some people find relaxation in fishing, going on walks, going out to dinner, and some find it in going out with friends to a bar or a club and listening to tunes.

All in all, you have to be able to strike the balance and medium where you can have fun with friends & family and still perform at your best.

My Personal Experience:

From personal experience, I have been on both ends of the spectrum:

When I was in college, I was 100% all in on having fun, going out with the boys and enjoying myself; which led me to feel like shit PHYSICALLY ON & OFF THE PITCH.

On the other hand, when I first arrived in Germany at 20 years old, I buckled down and told myself that I would’t go out for the full year, and I would train 5-6 hours per day.

Subsequently, I did that for 10 months, and what do you know, it made me feel like shit SOCIALLY & surprisingly enough, PHYSICALLY.

Now, at 26, I think I have struck ALMOST a perfect balance between both having a “good time” and being super disciplined (one that I am happy with; because balance is different individual to individual).

Basically, what I am saying is that you have to find a balance that makes you feel good in every sector of your life. I understand “balance” is hard, but you also have to keep in mind that balance is different for everyone.

I am pretty sure “my balance” differs from “your balance.”

Take a look at this…

Here are a couple of “rules” that I hold myself to:

1️. I only “go out” 1 night per week after a match.

2️. If I drink, it’s maximum 2 drinks on a night out (generally red wine).

3️. If I go out, I still get to sleep at a “reasonable” hour.

4️. I hold myself to one cheat meal if I cheat.

5️. I never drink on weekdays.

6️. I only go out if I was DISCIPLINED during the week, as I view going out as a reward in a sense.

Now, to some this may sound militant, but this is what I have tried & tested over 6 years, and it is what makes me feel MY BEST in every facet of my life.

For others, this may be too little and for some it may be too much.

Find Your Balance:

As with your physical training in the gym, and with your nutrition, you need to find what works for YOU, and not worry about what works for others.

If you take after what others are doing, you can fall into a trap, and most likely, it won’t have you performing at your best on and off the field.

The ALL OR NOTHING mentality will generally never do you any good. You need to find what works for you and be able to STRIKE THAT BALANCE.

I wanted to share this with you because I think it is very very very under-talked about and needs to be discussed more openly for youngsters to learn.

As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out