Permission to play more padel

"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity."

— John F. Kennedy

If you’re running a business or holding down a demanding job, and you're also part of the padel craze -- I've got good news. The two don't have to be at odds.

Our work-hard, hustle culture programs us to believe that working more hours is the key to success and achieving our goals. While that strategy can work, it usually comes at a cost.

I’ve spent the last five years coaching successful entrepreneurs, founders and leaders to create more sustainable success. Many of them are working so hard that the pressure and stress they carry become the very things that get in the way of their health, happiness, and even greater success. They don't make time for sport and exercise, and when they do, they feel guilty.

We didn’t evolve to sit still and focus for hours on end. We evolved to move, solve problems, adapt and connect with other people.

Your brain needs to switch off.
Your mind needs fun and excitement.
Your body needs movement.

So here’s where padel comes in.

Making time throughout your week, and even during your working day, for activities like padel or tennis isn't just a nice break from work; it's good for your brain.

Physical activity has consistently been shown to improve mood, reduce stress, sharpen cognitive function and boost creativity. Better still, sports like padel combine movement with social connection, which appears to amplify those benefits.

I deliberately carve out space during the day, while running my business, to play. And I help my clients create space for padel, tennis and other sports too.

It's no coincidence that when they do, they feel lighter, less stressed, more focused and more positive. They sleep better, enjoy a happier home life, and, almost without exception, perform better at work.

Oh, and as an added bonus, one of the largest long-term studies on exercise found that people who played racket sports had the greatest increase in life expectancy of any activity studied. Tennis was associated with almost 10 extra years of life compared with being sedentary.

The other day, a friend called me. He's Head of Sales for a start-up and admitted he was nervous because he wanted to ask the founder if they could play badminton during the working day.

I encouraged him to have the conversation. The response: "Absolutely."

Not every leader will be that open-minded, of course. But it was a good reminder that if we're employed, we can often assume the answer will be no without ever asking.

So, do you really need more evidence?

Or do you simply need to give yourself permission to play more?