In the fast-paced life of business-savvy go-getters, health and fitness can often be put on the back burner of priorities. Just as a car without routine maintenance doesn’t ride as efficiently, professionals without routine health practices don’t think as clearly and creatively. As employees, business owners, business executives and CEOs, we need our bodies and minds to run as efficiently and effectively as possible. Million dollar ideas aren’t fed with dollar menu diets.
One advantage of being extremely busy is that we don’t have time for non-essentials. We need ‘get in, get out’ workouts that give us the most bang for our buck. As a celebrity trainer with clients ranging from fortune 500 CEOs to to busy moms starting up new businesses, these are the keys I found most effective to keeping your fitness routines as vibrant as your career.
- Get your workout done first thing in the morning. This way, nothing important has a chance to “come up.” Starting your day with a workout also gives you energy and produces ‘feel good’ hormones called endorphins that will carry you through your busy day.
- Schedule an appointment with yourself. Just as you schedule important meetings and doctor visits, consider your workout an important meeting that you must keep. Make a commitment with yourself.
- Aim for several short 10 minute bouts of exercise when it’s almost impossible for you to carve out time for an hour-long workout. Do exercises that target multiple muscle groups to maximize your results with minimal time such as squats with a rotation (working your lower body and core), push-ups with a row (working your chest, arms and back), or go for the gusto with a burpee working almost every single muscle in your body!
- Set goals. As the saying goes, those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound). Try writing some of the more immediate goals into your computer passwords so you’re constantly reminded of them.
It’s time to get motivated and moving! We are our number one investment. If we don’t invest time in ourselves, how can we expect others to invest time in our businesses and ideas. Healthier people make happier people! Happier people make better decisions!
BE Health and Wellness Contributor, Deanna Jefferson is a Celebrity Trainer, Health & Fitness Expert, NIKE trainer and Owner of Fab Body Factory. Tweet with her at @deannajefferson.