✳️ JG Insights 4: Fitness Is Part of the Job, Not an Extra

Embracing fitness as part of your job will transform your approach to exercise.

As I get older, my view of exercise has changed. It's no longer something I do for sport or aesthetics so much as I do it to provide myself with energy to show up to my job with a full tank of gas... and to keep up with my young daughter.

In my job as a facilitator, leading a group of strangers, thinking quickly on my feet, dealing with difficult conversations and people, all can take a toll on my mind and body's energy reserves. To fortify against this, I do my best to exercise 4-6 times a week. It is not easy balancing work and family responsibilities - but it's a way I stay resilient to the effects of becoming older, keeping competitive in my field, and showing up for my learners.

How do I have time? Well, for one, I got rid of my television a long time ago. If I want to watch some videos, I blend them into my treadmill workout days. So 3x a week, I wear a 40 lbs weight vest and go for a walk on a treadmill with my YouTube playlist ready to go. Some shows I enjoy are: The Caspian Report, Wendover Productions, and The Fern.

Join a gym, or get a home exercise set, or just go for a walk - start with a few times a week - but make it consistent and see it as part of your job. It will help you feel better, look better, and perform better in your profession.

In my experience, when people see fitness as something "extra" they have to do to stay healthy, unless they have grown up with it, it can be seen as a medicine they have to reluctantly take, and can easily be pushed to the side. However, if they change how they see it to being something that is part of their job, it often becomes something they build into their daily work routine, even if it is as simple as a daily half-hour power walk at lunch. The key is consistency.