|
Health and Fitness By Jeffrey S. Harrison, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, ACE-AHFS Personal Training Director Pottstown Health Club
It’s safe to say that not enough of today’s society spends enough time prioritizing their health and fitness. Statistics aside, there’s no better proof than observing all of the products aggressively marketed as fail proof diet plans, gimmick exercise equipment, miracle weight loss aids, and of course there is just simple people observation. Even in the business world, the importance of health and fitness can never be stressed enough. Here’s a news flash. Success in business is as dependent on physical health just as much as profits are at the end of the day. Success in business also requires keeping the mind fit and sharp. So the question begs, how fit are you, physically and mentally?
It is important to appreciate the concept that you need to train your body AND mind for success. Unfortunately, the excuses usually prevail. “I need to exercise but I don’t have the time” or “I’d love to expand my knowledge but I don’t have the time.” Here’s another news flash. You must train your mind and body for business like an athlete trains to be mentally and physically fit for competition. You must find the time to exercise your mind and body. How? By training your mind and body one minute at a time. Here are some ways for business professionals to stay physically and mentally fit using the one-minute principle.
Exercise For One Minute
Who doesn’t have a minute to spare a day? No matter how much work there is to be done or how much time you think you don’t have, there is always an opportunity for a little exercise. Forget for a moment about feeling the need to spend hours hitting the gym or going for a run during lunch break. Focus on just the next one minute. Perhaps do a deep breathing exercise by taking in a big breath through your nose, expanding your abdomen, and then forcefully exhaling through your pursed lips as you pull in your belly button. Or how about getting up from your desk and doing one minute of push-ups or one minute of sit-ups? It doesn’t even matter how many you do. Over time, you’ll be doing more than you ever thought. After a while you may even be up to two minutes then three minutes. Anything is possible. Instead of surfing the web, do a minute of exercise instead. Do one minute of something. Start to get yourself in better shape one minute at a time.
Train Your Mind For One Minute
Think of your mind as a muscle. The more you can exercise it and use it to its full potential, the stronger it gets. Despite the benefits of today’s technologies, we could all use a little time away from the web, mobile phones, laptops and PDAs. We all know some people, perhaps yourself included, who do not know how to unwind. After a day of non-stop interaction, whether in-person, on the phone, or on-line, the brain can become hyperactive and wired. After a while it needs a clean up and a defragmentation so that it can delete rubbish thoughts and expired programs. Taking time to do a daily crossword, Sudoku numbers game, or even just reading a good book, preferably something unrelated to your profession, can do more to stimulate and relax the mind while simultaneously strengthening it. Even the always chastised day dreaming is under appreciated. Our minds are a world; an escape that we can easily visit within one minute. We can go there to relax and clear them whenever we choose. Whether in your car, a plane, or at your desk, we can train our minds to be stronger and then rejoin the day feeling a lot calmer and cleaner.
In business, time may sometimes indeed be of the essence and in terms of our health, both physical and mental, none could be truer. Apply the power of one minute to your everyday routine and in no time you will begin to not only feel, but see a difference. You will be surprised at the incredible focus you can achieve when you can concentrate for one minute on something usually only reserved for when time permits. To which I say, why wait? |
