Get Moving by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC
Busy people often find themselves working many hours and having difficulty setting aside personal time. But, some of the things we eliminate from our lives in order to build our business can actually help us more than long hours at work, in the long run.
Staying active helps ensure several important things. First, you can improve your health by being more physically active. In the long run, the time you take away from work to take a walk or work out can save you from missing many days later due to health issues.
However, keeping your body moving has other benefits, as well. Exercise is a great stress reliever, and you’ll likely find that you are more relaxed throughout the day when you take the time to get some exercise into your life. You’ll likely find that you sleep better, leaving you with more energy for all of your activities.
Finally, many people find that they are their most creative during, or just after, physical activity. The endorphins your brain releases during exercise can have a powerful effect on your ability to “think outside the box.”
Now that you understand how helpful it can be to get moving, you may be wondering what activities you should pursue and how to fit these into your already busy schedule. Here are some tips to help you get started.
- Choose something you like. You are unlikely to stick with any activity you don’t enjoy. And even if you do, why pursue something you hate?
- Don’t be caught up in old thinking about your exercise choices. The main idea is to get moving regularly and have fun doing it. Don’t worry about reaching a certain heart rate or spending a particular amount of time exercising, especially in the beginning. Schedule time to exercise. It is not necessary to schedule large blocks of time to work out. However, it is important to put your time on your calendar, treating it like any other appointment. If it’s on your calendar, you’re less likely to skip your workouts. Taking a thirty-minute walk during your lunch break is a good start if you haven’t been exercising at all.
- Let it evolve. Being physically active should be something you enjoy. Getting stuck in a routine for your exercise isn’t any more beneficial than any other rut you find yourself in. Be open to new things. Mixing your routine up with something different helps to alleviate the boredom you can feel with your routine. It also helps you work your muscles differently, which is great for your body.
The most important thing about exercising is just making yourself do something. Don’t be too hard on yourself but make physical activity a priority. Your body and your mind will thank you.
