In data science, we talk about overfitting and underfitting. An overfitted model is too tailored to its data, capturing noise that doesn’t generalize well. Underfitted models, on the other hand, are too simple to capture essential patterns.
But what if we applied this concept to our lives?
For 20+ years, our schedules are set by school, moving between diverse subjects and activities. Math, philosophy, physical education, art. After school? Football practice, guitar lessons—you get the idea. This variety keeps our minds sharp and our bodies fit.
Then adulthood arrives, and many of us settle into the 9-to-5 grind. Our “life model” becomes overfitted to this narrow routine. Gone is the flexibility that allowed for growth in different areas like health, hobbies, or social connections.
The result? Our bodies start to underfit. Just as an underfitted model performs poorly, our bodies perform less optimally when they don’t get varied inputs.
People often ask, “How much time do you spend at the gym? I’m too busy for that.”
Here’s the thing—you don’t need hours every day at the gym. A good in-person trainer can get you in and out of the gym within 1 hour, ideally 3-4 times a week to make the best of it. I trained 3 days a week with a trainer and made solid progress. It wasn’t until I pushed myself to train 6-7 days a week for 3 hours daily that I realized—more time didn’t equal better results. My technique was sloppy, and my performance suffered.
Now? Life is busy. I work from 9 to 5 (and sometimes from 5 to 9). I bike to the gym to add movement wherever I can. So, I spend about 1-2 hours, depending on how long it takes to load 150kg on my own – my trainer is an online coach which fits better my schedule and still got me my titles and medals. Some days it takes 4 hours because I get “URGENT” IT client requests that I cannot ignore.. mid-training.. outside work hours, but I still get it done!
At the end of the day, I ask myself:
Did I do my best with the time I had?
Can I optimize my time?
Did working on my health hurt my relationships in the short term? What about the long term?
Most often, working out makes me more productive.
Time is money
and you can decrease decision-making by following a perfectly made plan. If you’re struggling with time, it’s worth investing in a professional. Instead of scrolling through influencer content, let someone help you figure it out. DatAthlete connects you with trainers who understand your schedule and help you build a plan that works for you.