How can the benefits of exercise affect your career?
Q: I am getting ready to start a new job and am excited about the opportunity. However, recently, I started exercising and would like to continue it while working. My new job requires an early start in the morning when I used to exercise. What suggestions do you have in making a good impression at work while keeping up my exercise routine?
A: Starting a new job can be stressful in a positive way, and glad to hear you want to keep exercising and make a good impression. A typical workday can easily take up most of your time, and if you are not careful, good intentions often interfere with continuing a good exercise habit. It sounds like you are reaping the benefits of physical activity, a good sign that exercise is helping you.
Time management is one of the issues faced with keeping an excise routine moving forward, while keeping your career moving in the same direction. I recently spoke with Deborah Miner, Wicked Core owner and instructor, who shared her experience in keeping exercise a priority while maintaining a corporate career.
Miner stated that “Working out for me has always been a time to decompress and de-stress. In the corporate world, working in a high-stress environment, exercise helped me step away and have some quiet time. This was often hard to do, but I would make it happen by blocking out time on my calendar and working out during my lunch hour. I was in early and worked late, so scheduling a noon workout was the best option for me.”
As with most professionals, you realize that it takes time and effort to grow your career. It helps to keep in mind that an exercise routine will significantly impact how you approach work projects and handle an everchanging marketplace.
Miner and others who make physical activity part of their lives keep time in their schedules to work out as if it were part of their day. Exercise can boost your career success in hidden ways, such as:
• It gives you more energy to face challenging work assignments, producing quality work in less time.
• Improves your focus during a changing work environment. Exercise helps you adapt easier to stressful situations.
• It helps your decision-making due to the effects exercise has on your brain health.
• Increases creativity in approaching problem-solving.
As with most professionals, you realize that it takes time and effort to grow your career. It helps to keep in mind that an exercise routine will significantly impact how you approach work projects and handle an ever-changing marketplace.
• Enhances your self-confidence and self-esteem. When you feel physically out of shape, it affects how you interact with others at work, such as networking with colleagues. When you feel better about yourself, you project a more positive presence.
• It boosts your mood in handling conflict. Exercise gives you more energy to listen and helps maintain calmness while being productive at work.