Thursday, December 06, 2012
Fit for Fitness
Introduction
From the dawn of time, we were told
to eat right and stay fit, but how is staying fit really affecting our
livelihood. I want to inspire men and women, who feel like they have no
motivation to exercise because they want to utilize their time on thing other
than going to the gym. In my opinion regular exercise can actually help these
people with their overall health and also create success in their careers.
Health Benefits
Let's face it; we are surrounded by
influences that dictate what we should expect in our day to day lives. Most of
these influences are derived from mass media impacting our way of life, like
what to eat, how to dress and also as far as how to act in front of others. How
can anyone feel inspired to work out, while we try to figure out our daily
activity and time manage them properly? We all know, we should go and exercise
regularly, then why is it that more and more people feel like they don't have the
drive to perform. In my opinion, depression might be the reason behind this
lack of motivation. Dumblittleman.com points out, “Study
after study
has shown that exercise promotes mental health and reduces symptoms
of depression. The antidepressant effect of regular physical exercise is
comparable to the potent antidepressants like Zoloft. It may take at least 30
minutes of exercise a day for at least three to five days a week to
significantly improve symptoms of depression”. Imagine just 30 minutes a day
can have that much effect on our mood. I myself spend 45-60 minutes a day
inside the gym four times a week, and let me tell you the feel of euphoria that
rushes through my body right after a good work out is well worth the effort. Study
after study also proves that regular fitness activity is a great asset for our
body in the long run. Dumblittleman.com elaborates "People who are
physically active live longer. According to a 20 year follow-up study,
regular exercise reduces the risk of dying prematurely". Students who
think they are too busy to keep fit while juggling four or more courses, they might
need to think again. Research has also shown “Exercise stimulates the formation
of new brain cells. Researchers found
that the areas of the brain that are stimulated through exercise are responsible
for memory and learning. For instance, older adults who engage in regular
physical activity have better performances in tests implying decision-making
process, memory and problem solving”(dumblittleman.com).
Career Benefits
Aside
from the health benefits, daily physical activities can also improve opportunities
for career advancements. It seems more and more companies hire individuals who
have a good physical fitness, as they are more likely to be motivated in other
aspect of their lives. Individuals who wake up early in the morning to go for a
simple jog appear more energetic and more productive afterwards. Going to the
gym regularly and getting that exhilarating feeling after a heart pumping work
out can also provide the same result. A quote from health style fitness states,
“Successful people like to jump start their day with an abundance of energy and
the feel-good endorphins that exercise offers.... A study by Jim McKenna, a
British researcher, showed that after exercising participants returned to work
more tolerant of themselves and more forgiving of their colleagues. The study
goes on to conclude that work performance was consistently higher, time
management skills improved, as did mental sharpness”(briancalkins.com). This
explains why many multinational companies have gym facilities built in their
establishments, to help their employees become more efficient and productive. There
has been research done on the direct link between fitness and career success. Studies
have shown, regular exercise allows “Better ability to focus, improved
confidence and enhanced ability to follow through were directly attributed to
improved fitness levels” (briancalkins.com). So what does the leading executive
search company survey say about the importance of physical fitness, “more than
1,300 executives who earn $100,000 or more annually [were] asked to describe
their perceptions of weight and work, 75 percent said good physical fitness is
'critical for career success at the executive level'”(briancalkins.com).
According to the article by health style fitness, "It goes well beyond
looking good. Fit people tend to have better eating habits and miss fewer days
at work due to a higher resistance to illness. And with competition continually
increasing in every industry, companies are now rewarding employees and
managers who miss less work and produce more"(briancalkins.com).
Conclusion
Staying physically fit has a direct impact
in everyone's life. It promotes good health which leads to optimistic behavior
that radiates throughout the day and into your work. So we needs to consider
the consequence of making unhealthy decision like boycotting physical activity
due to time constraints and the indirect impact it will cause in our lives,
such as hindrance in career advancements. In the end you will only gain from
the overall dedication you invest in your body.
Dumb
Little Man. 13 scientifically proven health benefits of exercise. Retrieved
from: http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/02/13-scientifically-proven-health.html
Health
Style Fitness. The link between health and career success. Retrieved from: http://www.briancalkins.com/career.htm
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