Fit2Lead Part 1
Fit2Lead Part 1 is the first installment to a four part series, if you haven't read the Fit2Lead intro yet, I encourage you to start there before reading on.
Remember when we were in school and shortly thereafter, all the carefree time we had to run and play, hit the gym, hike, and bike, etc.? We took some time to move around, socialize with others, and simply mix it up. We took the time to stay fit for the challenge.
Then, life gets on us. We are wired to do more, to be successful, be happy, and to live the dream – to lead. We constantly push more and more into our busy and hectic lives. We take on more and the more we take on the more we push out the things we used to do that brought us joy and balance.
One of those things is exercise and fitness. Unfortunately this gets chalked up as one of those nice to haves but easy to delete activities from our lives.
As the demand for time at home and in our careers gets more compressed, the inner workings of our hearts and minds are still driven by ambition. Most of us will lead, whether it is parenting at home or a position in the workplace. Now more than ever, it is important to be fit for the challenge. Be fit to lead!
If you are a leader in your workplace you especially need to pay close attention to this as living a healthy lifestyle will have a great impact on your ability to handle challenges. It will also impact the efficiency and quality of your employees work, their mindset and attitude, and much more.
Below are some facts of how getting healthier means working happier:
Work Productivity
Exercising keeps those eyes from becoming heavy as the day wears on and helps you accomplish your daily tasks. The key points below show how exercise will empower you to bring greater value to your employer.
- Keeps you alert and focused making fewer errors
- Enhances your body’s ability to transfer glucose and oxygen throughout your brain and body therefore increasing your energy level
- Increases blood flow to the brain, which ultimately improves brain function
Mental Health
According to How Does Exercise Improve Work Productivity? by, Harvard Business Review, studies indicate that our mental firepower is directly linked to our physical regiment.
Recognize that the benefits of exercise extend beyond the physical and aesthetic appearance. Exercise impacts mental capacity by:
- Improving memory function
- Stress management, Medline Plus article, Exercise and Immunity states, “Exercise slows down the release of stress hormones”
- Elevating mood and creating a more positive self-image
- Increasing mental stamina to better handle challenges and opportunities
- Self confidence by working through challenges and accomplishing goals
Exercise releases chemicals called endorphins, also known as “happy” chemicals in our body during and after exercise which create a feeling of euphoria. This will help uplift your mood throughout the day which is important in the workplace especially when it comes to interacting with customers, peers, and your direct reports.
Illness Prevention
At some point, you are going pick up a bug or a cold, it is inevitable. However, you can increase your odds of good health whether it is chronic or acute illness by simply monitoring the food you use for fuel. With proper nutrition and exercising, sickness will come less frequently and missed time will be a thing of the past. Below are some facts on how exercise and proper nutrition will help you with illness prevention:
- Get your vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants from natural sources such as fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources, which help keep your body strong and healthy.
- Wholesome fiber helps move everything along the digestive track giving you a healthy gut, which is imperative for illness prevention - shoot for around 30g/day
- Medline Plus shares that exercise causes change in antibodies and white blood cells, which will circulate more rapidly, detecting illness earlier than if exercise was not a part of your routine
Becoming fit to lead is a journey, not a sprint. It takes time, patience, and commitment to make an impact.
Now that you have some basics on the importance of practicing a healthy and balanced lifestyle, what are you waiting for?
Next up, we will go deeper with putting physical activity in your regular day and making it part of your new routine to “Impact”.
Written by:
Libby Perritt, EP-C
Founder of Faithfully Fit Army
Contact me with any questions you may have, LPerritt@Impact2Lead.com !
References:
Medlineplus.gov. (2017). Exercise and immunity: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. [online] Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007165.htm [Accessed 16 Nov. 2017].
Anon, (2017). {online} Available at: https://www.livestrong.com/article/422836-how-does-exercise-improve-work-productivity/ {accessed 8 Nov. 2017}.