This morning before I went for my long run, I ran into a guy I know who works in law enforcement. He was walking his dogs and asked me how my running was going and how my prep was going for the Marine Corps in October. We talked about age, weight, exercise, running, walking and how life in general has a way of sneaking up on you. He's a few years older than me, and at age 53, he said he has slowed down a great deal. He talked about how he used to run, used to exercise more, used to do this, used to do that...He wished me luck with my running and with the marathon and we went our separate ways.
I began to think about our conversation as I began my long run in the park. He and I are not that far apart in age. Everyone has their physical challenges...some more so than others. Some of those physical challenges absolutely limit us in what we can do. Some people just seem to age quicker than others. Did you ever think about that? Some people look years older than they really are, while others seem to have found the fountain of youth.
For some people, exercise, or physical fitness has been a part of their life for as long as they can remember. For others, like me, being phyically fit became a priority later in life. Others couldn't care less about exercise or fitness.
How does your level of fitness, or lack thereof, impact your life? How does the way you feel physically effect your job performance? Your home life? Do you think if you improved your fitness level you might notice a difference in the way you feel? Do you think you might notice a difference in the way you function?
What about at home? Are you tired all the time? I'm not talking about extreme circumstances where you are putting in crazy hours at work or working 12+ hours a day. I'm talking about day to day existence. Are you tired ALL the time? Do you fall asleep as soon as you sit down? Need naps? I ain't talkin' bout new moms and dads, either, who have the excuse of being up all night with a baby. Or, the parent who occasionally has a young child who is sick and needs attention throughout the night. We've all had nights like that. Or occasionally, when we don't feel well or have a bad night. I'm talking about being tired. All the time. Day after day after day.
How's your bedtime routine? Can't sleep at night? Do you catnap throughout the day? Then at night you're not tired at bedtime so you stay up late...get to bed late...have to get up early for work...and are tired because you were up late...it goes on and on and on...
Family time. What does your family do together? Things to promote moving your body? Things like hiking, baseball, basketball, swimming, walking in the park, or biking? Or...do you sit around like slugs most of the time...watching tv, slapping your fingers on the laptop, mindlessly popping junk food into mouth while time slips away. Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with watching some tv, or spending some time on the computer, but it's all about balance. If you do those things, do you also balance it out by going outside and doing some sort of physical activity on a regular basis as a family. Are you setting a good example for your kids? Or are you too tired? Or don't have the time? Yep.
Your job. Now you may have a job outside the home, like my acquaintance and many others, or you may work at home. Doesn't matter. How does your fitness level effect your job performance? It's interesting. As he was talking this morning about how out of shape he was, and patting his nice little pot belly, I was wondering how it worked in his job...he is ACTIVELY on the streets...law enforcement. I would think you would need to be in some semblance of fitness to work law enforcement...especially when you're not sitting behind a desk. Does your level of fitness impair your job performance in any way? If you were a bit more fit, a little less tired, do you think you would be able to function better at work? If you felt better physically, and in turn, maybe even felt a little sharper mentally, how would that impact your day at work?
We just feel better when we exercise. It's a fact. We perform better. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. All around. It impacts our life in a major way. You don't have to run 6 miles and you don't even have to train for a marathon. But you do have to move your body. Every day.
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