Does the word exercise cause you an inward, guilt-tinged, groan? Do you find yourself thinking: “Yes, I must get back to it. I’ve been meaning to for a long time, but never seem to have the time”?

You’re not alone. Statistics from developed countries reveal that, four years ago, fewer than 60 percent of the population engaged in regular physical activity, with the number dropping below 55 percent over the past two years. People aged 18 to 24 are most active, with nearly three quarters participating in regular physical activity. This falls to around 66 percent for people aged between 25 and 34, and to 58 percent for those aged 35 to 44.

How many people in their 30’s and 40’s do you know whose exercise machines are gathering dust in spare rooms and garages? The machines seemed like such a good idea at the time - “Just five minutes a day to achieve that fabulous body!” But somehow, “five minutes a day” became a chore to be avoided.

How many people do you know who engaged personal trainers and were given time-efficient workout routines, only to lose interest after a few weeks? The routines were forgotten and their trainers’ services were dispensed with.

The trouble is, we tend to think of exercise as something we must do or should be doing. The very word suggests sweat, pain, effort, and ultimately boredom – which we all subconsciously try to avoid. Fitness experts say we should do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day to stay in shape and remain healthy. Ideally, we would do two 15-minute workouts per day, alternating aerobic exercises, which improve cardio vascular fitness and burn fat, with exercises that promote strength and flexibility.

But let’s face it: many of us are just not going to be able to stick with such a routine. For a few weeks, we’ll throw ourselves into it. Then we start to find excuses to avoid it. Back to square one. Saying you can’t do exercise because you’re running your own business is of course the ultimate excuse.

You can do it though! Just find something that you really enjoy doing. Any psychologist will tell you it’s easier to commit to doing something when you enjoy doing it and want to do it, than to something you feel you should be doing.

So if you’ve always admired (and secretly envied) those fit salsa or tango dancers, why not join a class and learn? These and other energetic Latin dances promote aerobic fitness, strength, co-ordination and flexibility, while giving you a good time and stimulating your mind. You have to engage your mind to learn the steps, right?

If you’ve always wanted to take up canoeing, cycling, windsurfing, or roller-blading, stop procrastinating and do it. Once you start, you’ll be too enthusiastic to stop. And rather than seeing exercise as something separate from the rest of your life, why not make it an integral part of your life – something you do while doing something else?

Take an activity such as walking, for example. In a 1998 edition of The Physician and Sports Medicine, Bryant Stamford PhD, wrote that moderate physical activities such as brisk walking could promote health nearly as much as vigorous workouts.

The Body Break fitness website further declares that: “Walking one kilometre burns only slightly fewer calories than running one kilometre, and is less stressful on the body.” So instead of driving or catching a taxi to that business meeting three blocks away, why not make it a brisk walk? When you get there, instead of riding the elevator to the third floor, why not take the stairs? When you take a break during the meeting, don’t just sit there with a cup of coffee. Get up, walk around, and stretch.

While thinking of a solution to that tricky marketing problem, place your hands flat on your desk or on the arms of your chair and push down hard for five seconds, then relax. Do it five or six times.

There are all sorts of variations to this simple isometric exercise: hands under the desk pushing upwards, or to either side of the chair, pushing inwards. And it’s not as silly as it sounds. You’ll be toning your muscles without losing a minute from your business.

Some other ways to incorporate exercise into your daily life include:

• jogging to the corner shop for the morning paper instead of having it delivered,
• walking to the post office to collect the mail instead of asking your team member to do it,
• visiting someone in an adjoining office instead of sending an email,
• taking the dog for a walk,
• washing the car,
• playing with your kids, and
• getting up to change the TV channel instead of using the remote control.

Be sure to read each article with the mindset “How could this apply to our business.” Thinking of it that way will guarantee that you get value. Better yet, take notes as you read and commit to having the ideas implemented by the time the next edition arrives. Also, make copies for each team member. To really make sure something positive happens, work with a GNS Group business development specialist to talk your team through the ideas and how to set a schedule for getting them implemented. We’re here to help you get started.

Memorable Quotation

“Depend not on another, but lean instead on thyself … True happiness is born of self-reliance.”
- The laws of Manu

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