You know you should do it, and your job search is a great time to do it.
Here’s my original list of 10 Mighty Reasons to Work Out During Your Job Search.
With those first reasons in mind-
Regular exercise will also…
11. Settle at least part of your job search into a routine. Too much of a routine is boring and can lead to job search-prolonging inertia, but some routine is good so you don’t feel like your search is ever spinning out of control.
12. One nice element of routines is that progress is easier to track. Even simple tracking of your exercise will build the habit of tracking your job search progress, which will ultimately lead to faster results.
13. Drive creativity and inspiration. “Research shows you’re more likely to have a creative epiphany when you’re doing something monotonous, like fishing, exercising, or showering.” (from Why our best ideas come to us in the shower)
14. “Prevent cognitive decline… Working out, especially between age 25 and 45, boosts the chemicals in the brain that support and prevent degeneration of the hippocampus, an important part of the brain for memory and learning.” (from 13 Unexpected Benefits of Exercise)
15. Boost your immune system, decreasing your chances of getting sick, which throws your job hunting schedule out of whack and causes you to reschedule job interviews, which rarely leaves a good impression.
16. Control your weight. By exercising appropriately and eating right, you can lose weight, tone up or gain muscle, whichever will make you feel best, which will shine through on your job search.
17. Make you feel more relaxed. Not only will you sleep better, you’ll fall asleep more easily as your body decompresses more gradually post-workout. You’ll be less tense on the job search and better refreshed when you pick things up the next day.
18. Improve your sex life. This will put you in a better mood and frankly, make you more likable. (from Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity)
19. Add some fun to your job search. Yes, I know, “job hunting is a job” and is therefore not supposed to be enjoyable. All the more reason to find a way to have some fun during the rest of the day. Choice of exercise and/or workout partners makes all the difference.
20. Grow your personal brand. This can be through networking while you work out at the gym, or jogging on a well-trod public path, or even through fitness social networks or fitness-related groups and pages (especially local ones) across social media. People respect perseverance, effort and progress so why not share with others and let them reciprocate, possibly with a job lead?
Itching to get started?
Try the 4-minute workout (iOS only for now) or the 7-minute workout (in your browser, on iOS or on Android):
(thanks to Swiss Miss for this)
Question of the article
Are you exercising while you job search? Which benefit are you feeling most? Tell us in the comments.
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A version of this article originally appeared here: