Hassled by a packed schedule and can't find time for exercise? Learn these handy tips for fitting fitness into your hectic day!
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Here's the harsh truth: you're constantly swamped with work, and exercise falls to the bottom of your priority list. But hey, no excuses! Finding time to move your body doesn't have to be a chore - even for the busiest of bees.
Enter Charles Scott, an executive mentor and self-proclaimed exercise coach with a unique approach. He champions the idea of integrating exercise into your life to achieve a work-life balance that's oh-so-essential.
"The trap is thinking that exercise must be an hour in the gym," Scott says bluntly.
As a coach to around 70 business executives, his message is simple: it's all about finding that sweet spot where work meets play. But don't worry - we're not talking about becoming a fitness fanatic overnight. Scott recognizes that not everyone shares his enthusiasm for hardcore exercise.
If you're aiming for the Grand Canyon end-to-end or planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro blindfolded, Scott's your man. He's guided his blind friend Dan Berlin on several extreme events. But if you're just starting, he's got you covered too.
Scott's approach to ambitious individuals could be summed up as teaching them "intentional movement." It's a game-changer for people who prioritize their professional goals over their physical and emotional well-being, a common trait among executives, Scott notes. He encourages them to focus on more than just money and fame, advocating for a holistic approach that tackles the emotional, professional, and physical aspects of life.
"Our bodies need to move," Scott emphasizes. "No matter what age you are, our bodies must move to stay healthy. So if you're not exercising, you're out of alignment."
What if the gym isn't an option? Worry not! Scott has plenty of creative suggestions for those on-the-go. Instead of attending one-on-one meetings while sitting, walk instead. Standing meetings are another fantastic alternative, Scott recommends, as they tend to be shorter and more efficient.
For added benefits, Scott suggests doing isometric exercises during meetings. Tense up your stomach muscles, hold for 20 seconds without holding your breath, release, and repeat - you'll be sore the next day, but it's worth it!
If your daily routine could use a mix of work and exercise, consider these additional ideas:
- Take a walk around the airport whenever a flight is delayed.
- Link exercise to daily events, like waking up or coming home from work.
- Make exercise a social event, and do it with friends or a group.
- Embrace the "athlete" identity, and create healthy habits based on it.
- Treat your body with respect, and pay attention to the food you eat.
- Take short breaks from work to do quick exercises like squats or push-ups.
By intentionally incorporating movement into your day, you'll find that exercise isn't an obstacle but a tool for achieving balance and overall well-being. And remember, it's all about finding what works for you!
Some people, like Vermont Creamery General Manager Harrison Kahn, opt for the partition method instead. Kahn rises at 5 a.m. to get in his exercise before the rest of the house wakes up. For those who prefer to keep work and exercise separate, this strategy might be just what the doctor ordered. However, the essence remains the same - prioritize your body's needs and make time for exercise in a way that works best for you!
- Despite being overwhelmed with work, it's essential to prioritize exercise for a balanced work-life, and Charles Scott, an executive mentor and exercise coach, champions this idea.
- Scott believes that integrating exercise into one's life doesn't necessarily mean spending an hour in the gym; instead, it's about finding the balance between work and play.
- For those who aren't enthusiastic about hardcore exercise, Scott offers an approach called "intentional movement," which focuses on physical and emotional well-being, a common concern among executives.
- Scott encourages ambitious individuals to pay attention to more than just professional goals, advocating for a holistic approach that includes health-and-wellness, workplace-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise.
- If the gym isn't an option, Scott suggests creative alternatives like walking during meetings, standing meetings, and doing isometric exercises during conversation.
- To incorporate exercise into daily routines, one can consider taking walks at airports whenever flights are delayed, linking exercise to daily events like waking up or coming home from work, making exercise a social event, and treating the body with respect by paying attention to the food consumed.
- Some people, like Harrison Kahn, General Manager of Vermont Creamery, opt for a partitioning method, where they exercise early in the morning before work to maintain a distinct boundary between work and exercise.
