I recently spoke with someone who had been made redundant, and knowing that he had his own home gym setup, I was impressed to learn that he had maintained his daily workout regime throughout this period of job searching and redundancy.
Whether you’ve faced redundancy, are going through challenging circumstances at work, or are fortunate enough to be part of a recession-proof business, I strongly encourage you to maintain an exercise regime. Not only will it help you manage stress and cope with challenges better, but it’s also beneficial in terms of your mental wellbeing, including boosting your self-esteem, as you conquer the small challenge of daily exercise.
On that note, I’d like to highlight the three main aspects of exercise that you should aim to incorporate—if not daily, then at least a few times a week.
STRENGTH WORK – Incorporating strength training to build and maintain muscular tone and strength will help with common ailments such as back pain.
CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE – Cardio shouldn’t just be about weight loss. If that’s your only goal, you may as well stop now. The true reason for cardiovascular exercise should be to promote the health of your heart and lungs: it’s nowhere near as effective for weight loss as dietary changes. In fact I worked with a person who lost 100kgs over a 24mth period with no exercise- only by changing her diet, and in particular cutting out (in her words) “yellow and brown” foods (fried, baked, processed foods).
FLEXIBILITY – This is something I’ve only truly appreciated in the last 10 to 15 years, as I’ve progressively injured various muscle groups and learned the importance of stretching. My flexibility routine now focuses on my upper body, especially my back, given how much time we spend seated at desks or in vehicles. For those who don’t have the luxury of standing desks, this becomes even more crucial.
Maintaining these three pillars of exercise—strength, cardio, and flexibility will not only keep your body in top condition but also improve your mental outlook as you tackle the challenges of this season.
