Finding Time for Fitness

Originally published by Nick Guinn.

As attorneys, we are busy: busy working; busy spending time with our families; busy serving others; and busy making friends. Unfortunately for us, we often overlook caring for ourselves. When we forget, a host of problems arise: depression, undesired weight gain, and loss of energy to name a few.

As for undesired weight gain, it’s understandable that when expected to put everyone else first, we as attorneys might forget to feed ourselves nutritious meals or take time to workout. If that weren’t enough, we spend the majority of our time sitting at desks, where the only thing we exercise is bad posture.

I propose we take time for ourselves, time to exercise.

Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

Exercise improves mood

Exercise boosts energy

Exercise promotes better sleep

Exercise improves your sex life

Exercise is fun

Exercise boosts brainpower

Exercise helps build relationships

Exercise lets you eat more

You probably don’t need much convincing that exercise is beneficial. The bigger challenge, however, is finding time to exercise. Here are some strategies:

• Think about exercising in terms of killing two birds with one stone. You can exercise by taking your kids/family to the park and/or riding bikes together. And during the summer, go for a swim, play softball or throw the ‘ol horseshoes.
• Try exercising first thing in the morning. By doing so, you have less opportunity to make excuses later in the day. What if you rode your bike to work?
• While at work, try going to the gym during lunch or scheduling a meeting on a jogging track or on a golf course (walk the course to really kick things up a notch).
• S. government guidelines say that losing weight and keeping it off, requires an accumulation of at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. Half an hour a day, however, is all that is necessary to receive the health and disease-fighting benefits of exercise. Note, it is perfectly acceptable to split this time up.
• If you do not belong to a gym or fitness club, but are interested, place convenience near the top of your list of priorities for selecting a gym. You’re more likely to get up early to drive five minutes to a gym without towel service than half an hour for a gym that does. Why spend your hard earned money on a fancy designer gym if isn’t convenient.
• Other important considerations when selecting a gym include: clientele (if you feel intimidated or out of place when touring the gym, you probably won’t want to go back when the tour guide isn’t there to hold your hand); specialized programs (do you like Zumba, or a certain type of class); specific equipment (if you think you might like cardio work make sure the gym has treadmills and ellipticals, etc.); crowds (is the gym too busy); and child care (perhaps your kids can have fun while you exercise).

Exercise is necessary for a happy and healthy life. There is no one-size-fits-all program, so find out what works for you. Personally, I like to run, bike, and swim. How about you?

Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.

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