Exercise is the Key to Productivity

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Guest Post

Whether it’s in school, work, the home, or just in everyday life, most of us strive to increase our productivity. Being productive is what gets us that raise, the diploma with honors or run our home with ease and grace.

As for me, I grew up in a home where we were taught to always being seeking out new ways to stay organized and on top of everything we did. With a military drill sergeant for a dad, I definitely learned to be productive from an early age.

As a young adult, I always had the energy to be productive throughout the day, but as I got older, my energy and motivation began to wane.

I began relying on caffeine to do the trick, but after chugging coffee morning after morning to get the energy I needed to get things done, I decided that there had to be a healthier way.

How Exercise Increases Productivity

Following in my father’s footsteps, I decided to join the military. Upon entering, I quickly got into the best shape of my life.

When I began to exercise, my energy shot up immediately and I didn’t even crave coffee like I used to every morning upon awakening.

We were strenuously working out every day and my energy was through the roof. The exercise gave me the stamina and energy to be extremely productive and accomplish everything I needed to in any given day.

Once I got out of the military, I decided to use my Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to get my undergraduate degree online and pursue a career in law.

Now, that I’m attending my Boston law school online, I rarely get out to exercise. The convenience and flexibility of an online program allows me to be extremely productive in my classes, but I am missing that active component of my life.

I am at my desk all day long and rarely take the time to go move around and get my blood flowing.

Getting Back in Shape to Boost Productivity

I am now determined to get back in shape in order to improve my health and increase my productivity. One of the main ways to stay committed to any exercise program is to come up with a set schedule of when and where you’ll exercise.

I have set up a schedule where I go on a run first thing in the morning before I start any school work, and that seems to be the key to sticking to my decision to get healthy.

If I miss my morning workout, it is very doubtful that I will do it later on in the day when things get more hectic, so that is why I do it right off the bat.

Another thing I have found to be helpful is enlisting the help of a friend. One of my buddies that lives nearby, was in the military with  me and is actually attending the same online law program that I am, so we get together to exercise a couple times a week.

Having a friend to keep you accountable is an incredibly helpful tool. When your motivation begins to drop, they are there to pick you up and put you back on the road to health. I know I couldn’t do this without my friend!

 

This is a guest post by Kar Strout.

Photo Courtesy of Jalexand

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