Exercise is healthy and necessary; everybody knows this. You probably recommend it to your patients all the time, but only a few commit to it.
Years ago, when I was employed and had a controlled schedule with normal work hours, I had my exercise program down pat: Tuesday and Thursday morning I did weight training, on Mondays and Wednesdays I did cardio.
Ever since I have been self-employed, I’ve been struggling with it. I have more responsibilities and work longer hours. Some days I am done with appointments early in the afternoon; other days I don’t get home until 9 p.m. How am I supposed to get a rhythm in my exercise routine?
A couple of weeks ago on a Saturday morning, my husband announced that he intended to work out at the gym and asked whether I wanted to join him. I had reasons not to go; I needed to check emails, I needed to prepare a presentation – I had work on my plate. Once I accomplish work, I can go to the gym, right? But can I really?
Life is a list of never-ending tasks, and we can come up with all kinds of excuses and reasons not to do something. The question is, How important is it to us to exercise, stay healthy, let go of stress?
If something is important to us, we make the time. We rearrange our schedule, drop unimportant tasks, and stop wasting time.
- How important is it to you to stay healthy; to be a role model for your patients?
- How important is it to you to spend time with your children?
- How important is it to you to have a strong network of friends?
If it is important, you make it a priority. You build support systems around it and honor your commitment. Often the more we have scheduled, the more productive we are with our time.
For me, I am doing the P90X program at home. It saves travel time to the gym, and I can schedule exercise between appointments. And staying in competition with my husband gives me the support system to stick to the regular routine.
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