When you’re self-employed, it’s tough to find time for most things but this is especially true for exercising. Here are some tips on how to incorporate exercise into your busy schedule.
How Exercise Can Improve Your Business
We all know that exercise is good for us, that it can help our mood, out outlook, and our physical abilities. But did you know that it can also help you work more efficiently and complete projects more quickly? According to the Dr. John Ratey, exercise helps your body and your brain.
The biggest deterrent to regular exercise is our schedules. Most of them are already bulging at the seams. It’s especially hard because, well, exercising isn’t always fun.
But the most successful small business owners know they need to devote time to taking care of themselves.
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Tips For Incorporating Exercise
No matter how busy you are, these tips should help you incorporate exercise into your busy schedule.
Tell Someone: Don’t keep your exercising a secret. Tell a friend, a coworker or a family member about what you hope to be able to accomplish. This provides a level of accountability and may give you the right push to achieve your goals.
Baby Steps: Don’t assume that your decision to exercise means that you will be running a 5K in under a month. Lofty goals like these often lead right back to the couch. Start with small, beginner-sized goals. Then, make a plan to increase in bite-sized increments each week.
Eye on the Prize: Write down a few simple reasons you want to make exercise a part of your days. Then post that short list both at home and in the office where you can see it regularly. A reminder to yourself about the end results you are reaching for can help you push forward.
Change Your Habits: Changing small habits can quickly add up. For example, taking the stairs instead of the elevator is an easy calorie-burning habit. Search for other opportunities to tweak your habits. For instance, could you leave home 20 minutes earlier each day and take a brisk walk to the office? How about the packages of copy paper that seem to sit in the box forever? A few minutes each day spent putting them on the proper shelf can add help add to your office workout.
Get Fit While You Work: Take a look at some of the exercise equipment you can use for desk exercises. There are a variety of ways to exercise from your desk. This includes standing desks, treadmill desks and more.
Get Alarmed: According to some exercise experts, short bursts of exercise that are done several times a day are more effective than longer, more strenuous exercises. Set an alarm on your computer or cell phone to remind you to get up and so some office exercises that will get your heart rate going every few hours.
Put Yourself on the Calendar: Make sure to grab a few blocks of time for your mental and physical health. Make this a part of your routine as you’re setting up your calendar for the week.
Put Your Money Where Your Schedule Is: It may be time to put your money into the game. Ask around about good gyms in the area and then find a trainer who is willing to meet with you at the gym. A trainer will be able to help you reach your fitness goals faster. Also, you’re less likely to skip out when you’ve already paid for scheduled time.
Write it Down: Writing down your exercise goals and results is important. Take time to record how you feel each day, even if all you feel is exhaustion. Within two weeks of exercising regularly, you should be noticing an increase to your energy levels, as well as to your mental capabilities.
Remember, You are Worth It
It’s all too easy to live every day checking off items on a to-do list. I’m sure that list can feel overwhelming when you combine work and home life.
When building your next list, remember that your health and happiness should rank at the top. Putting your wellbeing at the top of the list creates benefits that will compound for you and your business.
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Jennifer Yaniz
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MileIQ’s blog does not constitute professional tax advice. You should contact your own tax professional to discuss your situation.
