“I don’t have enough time for exercise.”
As you can imagine, I hear this excuse all the time from highly ambitious executives who’ve let their workout programs fall by the wayside. And I can understand why. In the age of e-mail, cellphones and two career families, we’re all strapped for time.
But here’s why these motivated people shouldn’t delete their workouts: According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, fit employees get more work done and perform better on the job. With that in mind, I advise people to forcibly carve out an hour out of their overloaded schedules each day and exercise. When they do, something very interesting occurs: They accomplish just as much as they did previously, if not more.
To help you find time to exercise, employ one or all of the tips below. Then see what happens to your career. It wouldn’t surprise me if you ended up spending less time at the office, but producing more and better work than before.
Go early. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly wakes up at 4:30 in the morning to get in her 40-minute workout. Like hers, your day can be very unpredictable, but the early morning is time you can control. And if your boss isn’t the president of the United States, you can even wake up a little bit later.
Go at lunchtime. A high-powered attorney and avid cyclist I know sometimes slips out of the office for a lunchtime ride. You don’t have to dedicate the whole afternoon to exercise; you can burn a lot of calories and gain a ton of fitness in just 30 to 60 minutes.
Involve the family. Exercise with your spouse or significant other, or involve your children in your exercise routine – kids love to ride in a jogging stroller, bicycle seat or trailer. A colleague of mine has his 5-year-old son ride alongside him on a bike while he goes for a five-mile run. It’s a great confidence-builder for the kid and solid exercise for his dad.
Arrange a business meeting. James Maguire, CEO of Philadelphia Insurance Companies and an Ironman triathlete, reportedly leads his managers on lunchtime bike rides and pool sessions instead of scheduling a business breakfast or lunch.
Establish a triad. Find two other people to work out with each day. When you commit to exercising with a group, you’re more likely to stick with it, especially if it means a 5:30 a.m. start. With three people, there’s still someone waiting for you if one person can’t make it or is out of town.
For more information on the latest in training, fitness, and nutrition from Chris Carmichael and the coaches at Carmichael Training Systems, Inc., go to www.trainright.com/newsletter.
